The Chicago Bears have some roster shuffling on the horizon in 2021, regardless of what happens over the next couple of weeks. If they make the playoffs? Great. If not? Too bad. Either way it’s apparent the team will have to do some tweaking of their payroll in order to handle the projected drop in salary cap. It could end up being an environment tailor-made for unexpected moves. Including a trade for somebody like Zach Ertz.
Wait, what? Yes. It seems that is a thing. ESPN analyst Bill Barnwell released an interesting column discussing potential quarterback moves that could be coming this offseason. One scenario he envisioned involved the Philadelphia Eagles. With Jalen Hurts seizing further control of the starting quarterback job by the week, it’s becoming clear Carson Wentz may be on his way out.
Odds are he’ll end up in Indianapolis with Frank Reich.
If that happens, Barnwell believes a key domino will fall shortly after. This being the decision by Philadelphia to trade for Nick Foles. It’s hardly a secret the team has a connection to the veteran QB. He won a Super Bowl for them. Bringing him back as a backup to Hurts would be a major PR coup and also given them some excellent depth.
In exchange, the Bears would receive the former Pro Bowl tight end along with a 6th round pick. For those confused by why it seems so lopsided? Remember the Eagles are projected to be $70 million over the cap next year. They have to unload Ertz’s contract. Dealing him for a capable backup QB might not be ideal but at least gets them something of value in return.
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“Chicago doesn’t have much cap space either, but Ertz’s $8.3 million salary would swap in as a replacement for Jimmy Graham, who is likely to be cut after the season. We all know how much general manager Ryan Pace loves his tight ends, and Ertz would step in alongside Cole Kmet in two-tight end sets for the Bears.
Foles has a $4 million base salary in 2021, which makes him financially feasible for his former team. What could the Bears do after parting ways with Foles?”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDiTGVOd1gk&ab_channel=SportsProductions
Zach Ertz would be a great combo with Cole Kmet
Jimmy Graham hasn’t been a terrible signing for the Bears. That said he’ll be 35-years old next year and it’s obvious he is slowing down. Cutting him would secure $7 million in cap space. That could be put to use in the acquisition of Ertz who is four years younger. He’s also under contract through 2023. So the Bears would have firm control of him for the foreseeable future.
His 2020 season has been a frustrating one. Ertz missed a large chunk of it with health setbacks and he hasn’t always been the focal point due to the emergence of Dallas Goedert. Not to mention the struggles of Wentz to get him the ball. His frustrations are evident with the Eagles organization. It’s probably best for both sides that they part ways.
Chicago is a logical landing spot.
Not only because of the looming Graham decision. There are also coaching connections. Matt Nagy worked with Doug Pederson in Kansas City. So the two have similar philosophies on how to utilize the tight ends. The Bears have plenty of reasons to pair the veteran Ertz with their emerging youngster Cole Kmet. Those two would be formidable on 3rd down and in the red zone.
If the Bears really are committed to giving Mitch Trubisky every opportunity to succeed next year, this sort of move makes plenty of sense.