Moves the Chicago Bears can make to free up cap space for 2019

With the Chicago Bears trying to free up some cap space, they need to come up with some tough decisions.

This offseason, unlike last year, the Chicago Bears are looking to tinker with the roster instead of completely overhauling it. They also need to decide whether to keep some key players such as Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan.

One obstacle that general manager Ryan Pace has in building on the success of 2018 is the salary cap. According to Spotrac, the Bears have about $5.9 million in available cap space. That means some tough decisions need to be made.

One player who appears to be a nearly unanimous choice to cut is tight end Dion Sims. He basically just took up a spot last season and by letting him go the Bears save $6 million. Then there is guard Kyle Long. At the very least, the team and Long need to restructure his

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contract. If they agree on that, the Bears save about $4 million. On the other hand, there is an out in the contract and the Bears save $5.5 million if they let him go.

There is also a possible trade of running back Jordan Howard. He doesn’t seem to be a fit in head coach Matt Nagy’s offense and trading him does two positives for the Bears — they save $2 million in cap space and they pick up some valuable draft picks.

After the whirlwind of picking up a pick in last year’s draft to get Anthony Miller, the Deiondre’ Hall trade, and the blockbuster trade for Khalil Mack, the Bears are left with five picks, two of them in the seventh round and none in the first two rounds. Picking up some extra picks, especially in the middle rounds (where Pace has done such a good job of finding talent), are critical to helping to strengthen the roster.

Making those moves frees up a total of between $12-13 million. That gives the Bears upwards of about $19 million to spend. That is not enough to make a splurge but enough to pick up the players they need at value prices.

Is there another big move to make?

Bleacher Report’s NFL writer Brad Gagnon recently wrote an article naming the top trade piece for every team this offseason. For the Bears, he made a curious choice — Danny Trevathan.

"His $7.7 million 2019 cap hit is far from an albatross, but the Bears are low on cap space at a projected $5.9 million and hoping to retain key defensive backs Adrian Amos and Bryce Callahan. They can save $6.4 million by trading Trevathan now, which isn’t a bad deal considering they risk losing him next year anyway."

Okay, this is a big one. The writer is assuming that the Bears will lose Trevathan after next season. That may be the case, but by trading him the Bears have a gaping hole in the middle of the defense. Yes, they save $6.4 million and that’ll give them over $25 million to spend. The problem is that they’ll need to use the extra money just to fix the hole.

The Bears have Nick Kwiatkoski and Joel Iyiegbuniwe as backup inside linebackers. Kwiatkoski was a starter when the Bears dealt with injuries a couple of seasons ago and did a decent job but he doesn’t have the athleticism to be a full-time starter. He is a good backup.

I like Iyiegbuniwe but he spent most of his time in 2018 on special teams. He can be a starter, but he isn’t ready yet. He needs to spend 2019 on the field as a regular backup and get as many snaps as possible. If Trevathan does leave after next season Iyiegbuniwe should be able to step in (if he gets those snaps).

The savings that happen by trading or releasing Trevathan are attractive, but it’s fool’s gold. Signing Amos and/or Callahan, or finding their replacements, and getting a running back who fits Nagy’s system, should be their priority. After that, they need to look for added depth. Trading away Trevathan just adds another priority in a position that is strong.