Chicago Bears: How much will a James Daniels contract extension cost?

With a new window of contention for the Chicago Bears becoming the topic of many conversations, looking to the future and recognizing which players will need extensions is part of this process. One player of great importance who is playing in the final year of his rookie contract is offensive lineman James Daniels.

Coming off of a torn pectoral muscle at only 23 years old, Daniels is viewed as a key component to the present and future of the Chicago Bears offensive line. Having the flexibility to play both center and guard has allowed Daniels to find time on the field at a young age.

Many are ready to hand Daniels an extension without using any hard evidence outside of his potential and 2nd-round draft position in the 2018 NFL Draft. Other than Daniels’ 2018 honor of being selected to ESPN’s All-Rookie Team along with ILB Roquan Smith and DT Bilal Nichols, there’s little numerical evidence that supports offensive line play. With that in mind, the best ability for any offensive lineman is availability.

The Chicago Bears must remain cost-effective when offering an extension

Using a combination of games played (GP) & games started (GS) on their rookie deal, as well as the age the lineman were when their extension was signed, there are three contracts we will use as references for Daniels’ possible extension:

• Pat Elflein (C/LG) – 50 GP, 49 GS – 3 Yr/$13.5m, signed at age 27.
• Isaac Seumalo (LG) – 36 GP, 15 GS – 3 Yr/15.9m, signed at age 25.
• Connor McGovern (C/RG) – 47 GP, 36 GS – 3 Yr/$27m, signed at age 27.
• James Daniels (C/LG) – 37 GP, 31 GS (not including 2021/2022 season), signing at age 24/25.

Expect Daniels’ extension to be in the four-year range with an average salary between $6-$8 million per year. It’s difficult to predict how much a team is willing to guarantee a player due to various factors that affect the spending habits of an organization.

The Chicago Bears will have a plentiful amount of free agents the next two offseason’s, making each extension offered and signed crucial in keeping the competitive window open. Daniels’ youth and ability to play multiple positions have set him up for a generous contract that will hopefully secure the former Hawkeye standout for the foreseeable future.