After the releases of longtime Bears, Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair it is time to look forward to what will be the primary acquisitions of the Bears offseason. Per the smart people at Overthecap.com the Bears have around $67 million in cap space. This means the real total is around $55 million after setting aside money for draft picks.
Tag Jaylon Johnson (18.8 mill)
The most important thing to do is find a way to make sure Jaylon Johnson is on this roster next season. I would love a long term deal but if all else fails then the franchise tag works.
Pro Bowl cornerbacks don't grow on trees and after reeling in a career high four interceptions in 2023, the stats are finally catching up to the strong play fans have seen from him.
Sign Lloyd Cushenberry (4yr/$55 million)
The Bears not having a second round pick makes it unlikely to find a rookie starter in the draft. Cushenberry has been effective ever since he took over the center position in DEnver as a rookie back in 2020. He has plenty of experience and is more of a pass protector than a force in the run game. But that is perfectly ok with a rookie QB likely taking over the offense.
AJ Epenesa (3years/$27million)
A guy like Danielle Hunter or Chris Jones would be ideal but once I start crunching the numbers I do not see how there is room for a $20+ million deal while also filling up other holes on this roster. Plus they both will be on the wrong side of 30 by midseason, which Poles has tended to avoid in his acquisitions.
Espenesa will be entering his age 26 season and coming off back to back 6.5 sack seasons.
He played for the Bears new defensive coordinator, Eric Washington, in Buffalo last season and his size at 6'6, 260 would be almost identical to what pro bowler Montez Sweat brings on the other side.
And while Edwardsville is 4 hours away from the city, we all know Poles loves to bring local guys back home.
The remaining money could go to a number of other depth pieces. Does Noah Fant follow Shane Waldron from Seattle? Do the Bears decide to throw money at a veteran running back to help Williams in his rookie season? Comment below with your Bears wishlist.
As a bonus, here is my current Bears mock for their first three picks. I expect there to be at least a couple picks added after Fields is dealt but his value has a huge variance depending on who you read from around the league.
#1: Caleb Williams - QB - USC
#9: Romeo Odunze - WR - Washington
#75: Jaden Hicks - S - Washington State
An ode to the Pac 12 as all three picks head east from the conference's ruins.
An ode to the Pac 12 as all three picks head east from the conference's ruins.
A new face of the franchise along with a shiny new weapon to compliment DJ Moore. And in the third round, a potential Eddie Jackson replacement
