Earlier this offseason we projected possible contracts for the Chicago Bears free agents. When James Daniels signed, his average annual value of $8.8M was just below the $9.6M that we projected that he would see. Considering the difference was just $800K, you could say that what Daniels saw was well in line with what he was projected to get.
On the flip side, the Las Vegas Raiders may have gotten a bargain with Bilal Nichols. The team signed Nichols to a two-year worth $11M, and $9M guaranteed. That is a bit different than the two-year $20M deal with $15M guaranteed that we projected for him. We did see the two-year deal coming, but we thought he would be a bit more expensive.
The reason is his age and overall production from his first four seasons. Nichols did not have his best season in 2021, but his 2020 and 2018 may have guided to him a bigger deal.
In comparison to players such as A’Shawn Robinson and Dalvin Tomlinson, they are getting paid more money, but are not producing at a greater rate than Bilal Nichols. On one hand, you can say that the Vikings may be regretting the Tomlinson extension, but Robinson has been a value. Still, Nichols was much cheaper than either.
Beyond that, considering his salary you could argue that the Chicago Bears did not choose Larry Ogunjobi over Bilal Nichols because the duo together could have been had at a reasonable salary. Arguably one reason why Nichols struggled more in 2021 was that he had to step outside the guard and fill into the Akiem Hicks role more.
When Nichols is in the a-gap, he is better off, especially with a pass rusher like Hicks beside him. Ogunjobi would be the younger and healthier version of Hicks here and had Nichols lined up beside him the duo could have worked.
Ryan Poles is telling us clearly what he thought of the roster with the moves being made. He could have made Bilal Nichols a reasonable offer and saw him stay with the Chicago Bears but he had no interest in that. It will be interesting to see if blossoms in a new change of scenary.