Chicago Bears: Martellus Bennett’s Trade Value

By Kevin Parvizi | Apr 29, 2015

The Chicago Bears could go in a number of directions with the seventh overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, as they could choose upgrade their weak defense or add a top receiver to replace Brandon Marshall. Those seem to be the two most likely scenarios for a Bears team under a new regime, and this is a regime that has been busy cleaning house. After shipping Marshall to the New York Jets in what was mostly a cost-cutting move (though some say it was also to change their locker room culture), the Bears are reportedly interested in trading away another talented pass-catcher.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Bears are “entertaining” offers for tight end Martellus Bennett, who is affectionately known as the “Black Unicorn”. Per Schefter, Bennett would like a new contract now that he has two years left on his deal, and that’s probably because he’s in the prime of his career at 28 and coming off of a career-high 90 receptions.

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It looks like the Bears are interested in saving money and adding some mid-round picks, even if it comes at the expense of taking veteran weapons away from Jay Cutler. With the seventh overall pick, the Bears have a fighting chance at landing either Amari Cooper or, more likely, Kevin White, with both being excellent options who would immediately form an excellent WR quartet with Alshon Jeffery, Eddie Royal, and intriguing young gun Marquess Wilson.

Bennett is one of the most physically gifted tight ends in the NFL, because he has the ability to be a playmaker in the passing game or move the pile in the running game with his strength as a blocker. The problem is that he’s never been consistent at doing both in a single season, which has prevented him from ever realizing his potential as a top-five tight end in this league.

Last season, he posted career highs across the board with 90 catches for 916 yards and six touchdowns, as he was the Bears main chain-mover with Marshall struggling. Per Advanced Football Analytics, the former Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants TE led the Bears with a 70.3% catch rate last season and nobody else was within 11 percentage points of him.

But while Bennett put up some strong numbers last season, it’s hard to see a team making a significant trade offer to the Bears for his services. Like Vernon Davis, Bennett is looking to receive more money even though he has more than one year left on his deal and is already being compensated relatively fairly. With about $5 million set to come his way in each of the next two seasons, Bennett will be hard-pressed to get anybody to pay him more money than that.

Tight ends with Bennett’s tools are valuable, and it’s hard to ignore the 90 catches he put up last season in a much more different role as Cutler’s safety valve. I think the numbers flatter Bennett a little bit, but it would be foolish to ignore the fact that he had a great season. Again, he moved the chains for the offense, blocked well, and clearly established himself as a top ten tight end.

Martellus Bennett is starting to reach his potential here in the prime of his career, because if his performance last season is indicative of what’s to come, then he could have a huge impact for a team next season. The problem is that it’s hard to see a team giving Bennett what he wants financially and simultaneously giving the Chicago Bears a pick that would make it worth it for them to trade a 90-catch tight end who can block.

I think it’s fine for the Bears to shop around and see if they can get a TE-needy team to bite, and they have a better shot of it happening this year in a weak TE class that doesn’t have much after Maxx Williams and Clive Walford, whose stock has seemingly slipped.

Dec 4, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears tight end Martellus Bennett (83) in their game against the Dallas Cowboys at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

That said, I would be surprised if the Bears find a partner willing to give them more than a fourth or fifth-round pick, and I don’t think that’s a price worth accepting at the expense of letting Bennett go.

They might have no choice given his contractual demands, but if very few teams show interest, then the Bears can simply say, “Tough it out and ball out for a year, because nobody wants to pay you.”

Bennett has earned a reputation for being a lazy diva, but I think that’s an inaccurate label for someone who blocked well and moved the chains in his first season as a consistent, dependable player in the passing and running game.

But is he worth trading for and paying for? I think the Bears will find little interest, but it’s worth it for them to gauge interest in their TE. If they can get a team to trade a third-round pick for him (not unreasonable), then I think they’ll pull the trigger given the money saved.

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