This offseason is another big time in the Chicago Bears rebuild. With a new head coach on the scene in Ben Johnson, important changes and additions need to be made to the team in hopes of a more successful 2025 season. The offensive minded head coach already let go of a few staff members and has his group ready to go with free agency less than two months away.
As of right now, the Chicago Bears have around $64 million in cap space entering the offseason. This gives them some flexibility to attack their needs prior to the 2025 season head on. The way things look with the current layout of the roster, the trenches will need to be addressed in a big way.
Fans should expect three new offensive linemen to join the team along with an edge rusher to play alongside Montez Sweat that can hopefully make a difference in getting to the quarterback. There are a couple of factors that could raise the Bears’ cap space number, one that they can control themselves and the other comes with some help from the league.
The NFL cap is projected to go up, which benefits the Chicago Bears
It was revealed on The Pat McAfee Show that the NFL’s salary cap could increase to $275 million this season. If that is truly the case, Chicago’s available cap would increase from $64 million to $67 million without having to do anything with their roster as it stands.
While $3 million doesn’t seem like much on the surface, it can go a long way for the Bears when pursuing multiple free agents at higher price tags. On the offensive line, a guy like Trey Smith from the Kansas City Chiefs would be a massive get if he hits the open market.
Smith is one of the more well-respected guards in the NFL and he won’t come cheap. Because of this, any more funds that the Chicago Bears can collect for their cap space would only strengthen their efforts to sign a player of Smith’s caliber.
On the defensive side of the ball, two free agents pass rushers that have been linked to the Bears are Josh Sweat and Chase Young. Sweat would cost Chicago more against the cap than Young would, so that’s something to keep in mind when looking at him as a free agent target.
Young could be a better fit for the Chicago Bears financially and scheme wise after Dennis Allen was named the team’s defensive coordinator. Allen and Young worked together in New Orleans during the defensive guru’s head coaching stint with the Saints.
Ryan Poles can make a few cuts to help the cause even more
The Bears could easily create more cap space by cutting a couple of players before June 1. The first likely candidate to leave Chicago is tight end Gerald Everett. The veteran did not add much to Chicago’s offense this season after signing a two-year contract in March of 2024. Everett would save the Bears nearly $5 million if he is cut, which would bring that $67 million to over $70 million for the front office to work with.
Ryan Bates is another viable option for the Bears to let go. The veteran offensive lineman was acquired in a trade from Buffalo last offseason and struggled to stay on the field in 2024. Bates would save Chicago $4 million by being released.
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