LAKE FOREST, Ill. -- General manager Ryan Pace’s brand-new contract extension ensures a certain degree of roster stability from 2017 to 2018.
Unlike three years ago, the Chicago Bears are not completely starting from scratch under their new head coach, Matt Nagy -- there should be plenty of holdovers from the John Fox era in Chicago’s Week 1 starting lineup.
That being said, change is inevitable in the NFL. The Bears have several higher-profile veterans -- signed through 2018 -- who are on the proverbial bubble.
Here are some of the decisions the Bears face, with projections on how it works out:
QB Mike Glennon
Potential savings vs. cap: $9 million
Dead money: $4.5 million
The situation: Glennon struggled (eight turnovers) in four starts last year before the Bears pulled the plug and went with second overall pick Mitchell Trubisky. Glennon, who didn’t take another snap for Chicago after losing his starting job, is scheduled to make $12.5 million in 2018 -- on top of a $2.5 million fully guaranteed roster bonus.
Prediction: Gone. Glennon’s salary is too high for a backup. He also doesn’t fit Nagy’s style of offense. The Bears will be in the market -- either via free agency or the draft -- for another backup.
OLB Pernell McPhee
Potential savings vs. cap: $7.075 million
Dead money: $1 million
The situation: McPhee plays extremely hard but he struggles to stay healthy. The 29-year-old veteran has dealt with knee problems since the Bears signed him in 2015. To McPhee’s credit, he appeared in 13 games last season -- after having another knee surgery over the summer -- but McPhee has only 14 sacks while wearing a Bears uniform. McPhee has a small roster bonus ($200,000) due on June 1, but his base salary is a pricey $7.2 million.
Prediction: The only way McPhee returns is if he agrees to take a reduced salary. The Bears just can’t justify paying a situational player with a history of health problems $7.2 million for another year. Now, there’s value in McPhee coming back. He tells it like it is inside the locker room. The Bears need guys like McPhee. The team as a whole was way too sensitive to internal criticism last year.
Potential savings vs. cap: $5 million
Dead money: $750,000
The situation: Wheaton, who underwent multiple surgeries in 2017, caught three passes for 51 yards in 11 games. He is scheduled to earn $5 million this season. He has seven receptions in the past two years combined.
Prediction: The Bears probably move on. Wheaton, when healthy, would fit in Nagy’s offense because of his speed, but how can the Bears trust him? And how can they pay him $5 million?
Potential savings vs. cap: $3,260,416
Dead money: $666,667
The situation: Demps, 32, played in three games last year before landing on injured reserve. He’s due to collect a $500,000 roster bonus on the third day of the league year; Demps' total compensation maxes out at $4 million in 2018.
Prediction: The Bears appear to be in good shape at safety with Eddie Jackson and Adrian Amos. The team isn’t going to pay a backup safety upward of $4 million. It’s probably time for Demps, who intercepted six passes for Houston in 2016, to move on.
Potential savings vs. cap: $4.5 million
Dead money: $1 million
The situation: Cooper quickly fell out of favor with last year’s coaching staff. Cooper, who made $6 million in 2017, was expected to be a full-time fixture in Chicago’s secondary but ended up starting only a handful of games. His $5 million base salary for 2018 becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year.
Prediction: The Bears have serious offseason questions at cornerback -- Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara are unrestricted free agents -- which could work in Cooper’s favor. But at $5 million? For a player who started only three games? And with Vic Fangio back as defensive coordinator? It would make more sense of the Bears to move in another direction.
TE Dion Sims
Potential savings vs. cap: $5,666,666
Dead money: $666,667
The situation: Sims wasn’t much of a factor in the passing game in 2017, with only 15 catches for 180 yards and one touchdown. His $6 million base salary for 2018 becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the league year.
Prediction: It all depends on whether Nagy has a role for him on offense. If Nagy feels he can use Sims -- although $6 million is awfully high for a tight end with 89 career catches over five seasons -- then perhaps he’s back. But Sims does not look like a very good signing based on last year’s results. Few people in Chicago would complain if the Bears cut their losses with Sims after one year.
OLB Willie Young
Potential savings vs. cap: $4.5 million
Dead money: $900,000
The situation: Chicago’s best pass-rusher from 2014-16 (24 sacks), Young played in only four games last year. The 32-year-old is due a roster bonus of $1 million on the third day of the league year. Young’s 2018 base salary is $3.5 million.
Prediction: Young’s age is definitely working against him, but he has had a successful run in Chicago. Given the uncertainty surrounding the rest of the outside linebackers (McPhee is on the bubble, Leonard Floyd is coming off surgery and Sam Acho/Lamarr Houston are unrestricted free agents), the Bears might be better off paying Young the roster bonus. That way, they can bring Young to camp and see what happens.