Starting Cap Space: 46 Million

Releases [18.8 million Saved]

DE Julius Peppers [15 million] Post June 1st cuts the cap cost in half.

P Adam Podlesh [1 million]

WR Eric Weems [1 million]

RB Michael Bush [1.8 million]

Cap Space: 64.8 million

Re-Signings [40.5 Million Spent]

QB Jay Cutler 4 years 64 million/32 guaranteed

I think the Bears intend to sign Cutler long term before they try and enter back into a QB market with an offense that is growing

Year 1: 4 million base/8 million guaranteed [12]

Year 2: 8 million base/8 million guaranteed [16]

Year 3: 10 million base/8 million guaranteed [18]

Year 4: 10 million base/8 million guaranteed [18]

.

OG Matt Slauson 4 years 12 million/6 guaranteed

He has been a pleasant surprise at LG and brings increased size and physicality to the line. This line should be kept together and allowed to grow together.

Year 1: 1 million base/1 million guaranteed [2]

Year 2: 2 million base/1 million guaranteed [3]

Year 3: 2 million base/1 million guaranteed [3]

Year 4: 3 million base/1 million guaranteed [4]

DT Henry Melton 2 years 12 million/4 guaranteed

A similar deal to the one that Cliff Avril signed coming off of an ACL injury and the franchise tag. The dollar value is there for Melton with reasonable guarantees if he gets cut after 1 season he makes 7 million similar to the tag and the Bears can save 5 million in 2015 if they feel they need to move on.

Year 1: 3 million base/2 million guaranteed [5]

Year 2: 5 million base/2 million guaranteed [7]

CB Tim Jennings 4 years 26 million/12 guaranteed

He is a perfect fit in the defense and has been durable for the Bears while forcing a ton of turnovers. But Jennings is not a #1 CB and he does not fit in a system that runs man coverage so I think his price tag stays reasonable and the Bears can afford to keep him.

Year 1: 1 million base/3 million guaranteed [4]

Year 2: 4 million base/3 million guaranteed [7]

Year 3: 4 million base/3 million guaranteed [7]

Year 4: 5 million base/3 million guaranteed [8] *restructured or cut

DE Corey Wootton 3 years 12 million/6 guaranteed

He is young, versatile and has stayed healthy and while he is not dominant he can start and provide a nice rotational player while grabbing 7-8 sacks a season.

Year 1: 1 million base/2 million guaranteed [3]

Year 2: 2 million base/2 million guaranteed [4]

Year 3: 3 million base/2 million guaranteed [5] *restructured or cut

DT Jeremiah Ratliff 2 years 8 million/4 guaranteed

Year 1: 1 million base/2 million guaranteed [3]

Year 2: 3 million base/2 million guaranteed [5]

CB Zackary Bowman 2 years 4 million/2 guaranteed

He played well enough to be the #3 CB and keep the seat warm for a drafted player.

Year 1: 1 million base/1 million guaranteed [2]

Year 2: 1 million base/1 million guaranteed [2]

QB Josh McCown 2 years 3 million/1.5 guaranteed

He is the perfect back up in this system and with Jay’s health question marks he is worth every penny and he wants to stay here as he is in the perfect situation.

Year 1: 500k base/.5 million guaranteed [1]

Year 2: 1 million base/1 million guaranteed [2]

LB D.J Williams 1 year 1.5 million

With Bostic not stepping up and siezing the job we need a veteran that can give us an option in case Bostic struggles against the run.

CB Sherrick McManis 2 years 2 million/500k guaranteed

Year 1: 500k base/500k guaranteed [1]

Year 2: 1 million base [1]

1 Year Deals [5.9 Million Spent]

S Anthony Walters [750K]

C Taylor Boggs [ERFA] 480K

LB Jerry Franklin [ERFA] 480K

LB Blake Costanzo [750K million]

OT Eben Britton [1 million]

S Craig Steltz [1 million]

LS Pat Mannely [1 million]

P Tress Way [500K]

Extensions [1 million spent]

WR Brandon Marshall [1 year 9 million remaining] 2 years 26 million/16 guaranteed [3 years 35 million/16 guaranteed]

Marshall has 4 good years left with his size and a game not reliant on speed and the Bears can still afford to extend Jeffery in 2 years, by extending Marshall again like they do with Briggs. This duo needs to be together till the wheels fall off of Marshall and I am willing to sacrifice in other areas down the road.

Year 1: 4 million base/6 million guaranteed [10]

Year 2: 7 million base/5 million guaranteed [12]

Year 3: 8 million base/5 million guaranteed [13]

Cap Space: 24.3 million

Free Agents [20.25 million spent]

The Bears are missing foundational players on defense as they move on from Tillman and Peppers and they need to be replaced with more than just depth players.

DE Michael Johnson [Cincinnati] 5 years 45 million/20 guaranteed

The Bears need a dynamic pass rusher that can consistently impact a game and while Johnson’s sack numbers are not as good as last season he is PFF 2nd ranked 3-4 DE and has made plays all over the field this season. He provides the type of athlete that the Bears need at RE.

Year 1: 2 million base/4 million guaranteed [6]

Year 2: 4 million base/4 million guaranteed [8]

Year 3: 5 million base/4 million guaranteed [9]

Year 4: 6 million base/4 million guaranteed [10]

Year 5: 8 million base/4 million guaranteed [12]

S Jairus Byrd [Buffalo] 4 years 34 million/16 guaranteed

The Bears safety play killed their defense this season as the safeties did not provide support in the back end and they could not cover 1 on 1. Byrd is an elite coverage FS that can come in and immediately provide stability for the Bears.

Year 1: 3 million base/4 million guaranteed [7]

Year 2: 4 million base/4 million guaranteed [8]

Year 3: 5 million base/4 million guaranteed [9]

Year 4: 6 million base/4 million guaranteed [10]

DT Arthur Jones 4 years 18 million/8 guaranteed

Jones provides an increase in size and depth for the Bears as he has played all over the Ravens front. Jones also has 4.5 sacks and can provide pass rush from the NT position. He can also provide depth at the 3 technique if Melton struggles to come back from his ACL injury.

Year 1: 1 million base/2 million guaranteed [3]

Year 2: 2 million base/2 million guaranteed [4]

Year 3: 3 million base/2 million guaranteed [5]

Year 4: 4 million base/2 million guaranteed [6]

S Kendrick Lewis [Chiefs] 2 years 5 million/2 guaranteed

Lewis can come in and step in at SS and provide a physical tackler that the Bears have missed.

Year 1: 1 million base/1 million guaranteed [2]

Year 2: 2 million base/1 million guaranteed [3]

RB Anthony Dixon [San Francisco] 2 years 3 million/2 guaranteed

A big bruising short yardage back, who has also played fullback and is a special teams standout. He comes in at a million less a year and will do more than Bush was capable of.

Year 1: .5 million base/1 million guaranteed [1.5]

Year 2: .5 million base/1 million guaranteed [1.5]

TE Mathew Mulligan 1 year 750K

A blocking TE that can catch the ball a little and provides a big physical short yardage player.

Draft

1[14] DE Trent Murphy [Stanford] 6’6′ 272lbs.

The Bears need a starting LE that can rush the passer and can stop the run. Murphy has the size, power, and relentless motor to provide a consistent rush from the LE position. Murphy is the type of physical player that can change the culture of the defense like Long did for the OL.

2[46] CB Kyle Fuller [Virginia Tech] 6′ 195lbs.

Bowman will start for a few weeks while Fuller gets up to speed and in the meantime we have depth and developing players. Fuller provides a physical presence at the CB position and is a physical player that can continue the tradition of physicality at the position.

3[78] LB Yawin Smallwood [UConn] 6’3 236lbs.

Bostic does not appear to be the answer at MLB as he look lost when blockers come at him and he does not seem like he can play the run inside. Smallwood has shown that he can play the run from the inside on a defense where he does not have elite players on the inside. Smallwood can develop behind Williams who is back on a 1 year prove it deal.

4. C Weston Richberg [Colorado St] 6’3″ 300lbs.

Garza has really struggled in the run game and his age is starting to show as he struggles with explosive DTs. Richburg is a smart leader who can come in and compete with Boggs to replace Garza.

5. QB Aaron Murray [Georgia] 6’1″ 215lbs.

The Bears need a developmental QB and they can get a great value in Murray who is coming off of an ACL injury that will drop him. All the Bears need is a player that can sit and learn for a couple of years and Murray needs that time to heal.

6. WR T.J Jones [Notre Dame] 5’11” 180lbs.

Earl Bennett was making too much money to be the 5th option on most passing plays, but the Bears need to add a cheap reliable slot option. Jones just catches the ball when it is thrown his way and will not be needed to do much more than be the 4th WR and play some special teams.

6. OT Justin Britt [Missouri] 6’6″ 315lbs.

The Bears need to continue to add depth and youth on the offensive line and continue to let Aaron Kromer develop guys. Britt has the size that the Bears appear to desire and plays in a passing offense very similar to Long and Mills. Britt can come in and simply work behind the veterans, be inactive on game days and work to develop as a long term answer at LG, RG when Long goes to LT, or at LT if he can continue to develop his footwork.

Depth Chart

QB: Cutler, McCown, Murray

RB: Forte, Dixon, Ford

FB: Fiametta

WR: Marshall, Bennett

WR: Jeffery, Wilson, Jones

TE: Bennett, Mulligan, Onubon

LT: Bushrod, Britt

LG: Slauson

C: Richburg, Boggs

RG: Long, Brown

RT: Mills Britton

RE: Johnson, McClellin, Bass

DT: Melton, Paea

NT: Jones, Ratliff

LE: Murphy, Wootton

SLB: Bostic, Costanzo, Franklin

MLB: Williams, Smallwood

WLB: Briggs, Greene

CB: Jennings, Bowman, Fuller, McManis, Frey [NB]

FS: Byrd, Conte, Walter

SS: Lewis, Steltz