NFL free agency is just around the corner, and there should be no shortage of news. The new league year officially starts on March 13, with the legal tampering period starting just two days earlier on March 11. Here’s a tracker of all of the Chicago Bears‘ signings, rumors, news, and more.
Chicago Bears Free Agency News and Rumors
While many teams are making moves to free up cap space ahead of free agency, the Bears don’t need to do that. According to Over the Cap, Chicago has $75.4 million to deal with.
While they didn’t need to free up space as desperately as some, they still did cut both Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair in order to free up some space.
Jaylon Johnson Tag and Sign
The biggest thing the Bears needed to do this offseason was keep star cornerback Jaylon Johnson around for a long time. With the two sides unable to come to terms on a long-term deal before the franchise tag deadline, the Bears designated Johnson as their franchise player with the non-exclusive franchise tag.
The franchise tag for cornerbacks would have cost the Bears $20.7 million fully guaranteed. However, both sides did finally agree to a long-term deal just a couple of days later.
Johnson signed a four-year deal worth $76 million, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. The deal includes $54.4 million guaranteed and $60 million in the first three years. He will potentially be able to hit the market at 28 years old.
Trade for Ryan Bates
The first trade of the offseason was made by the Bears, thanks to the Buffalo Bills. With the Bears in need of offensive line help, the team made a trade with the Bills for offensive lineman Ryan Bates. In return, the Bears sent a 2024 fifth-round pick.
While the Bills announced the trade on their social media, it will become official on March 13, pending a physical. At 27 years old, Bates spent five seasons in Buffalo, playing in 73 games and starting 19.
Justin Fields Trade Rumors Swirl
With the Bears holding the top selection in the 2024 NFL Draft, it’s been a hot topic whether they’d select USC’s Caleb Williams and trade Justin Fields or if they’d keep the veteran QB. According to Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, it’s leaning towards the former.
“In an ideal world, the Bears would be able to go through a complete process in assessing this year’s quarterback class before deciding what to do with Justin Fields,” said Breer.
KEEP READING: Salary Cap Space by Team
“Alas, the world Chicago is living in now isn’t such an ideal one. Simply put, it’s not practical for Chicago to wait until mid-April, when the spots available for veteran quarterbacks across the league have filled up, to trade Fields,” Breer continued.
“It wouldn’t allow for the Bears to maximize Fields’s value. It also wouldn’t be doing right by Fields, which is what Chicago GM Ryan Poles told the media he wants to do.”
The NFL Draft isn’t until late April, so the Bears have time, but Fields’ value could only drop the longer they wait.
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