The Chicago Bears extended Charles Leno Jr. last season because they felt he had earned it. At the time, he had. His 2018 run was his best by a wide margin. It also might’ve been his peak. The left tackle went from that to what might be the worst season of his career in a Bears uniform. In addition to being called for 12 penalties on the year, more than double anybody else on the roster, he also has watched his blocking regress in every way imaginable.
Never was it more apparent than against the Minnesota Vikings in the season finale. Despite playing against backups on defense, Leno looked overmatched for the almost the entire game, allowing way too much pressure on Mitch Trubisky. Keep in mind he came into the game having allowed six sacks already on the season. Perhaps the lowlight came in the 4th quarter when he allowed a Vikings defender a free lane to the QB, resulting in a strip-sack. One Minnesota turned into a field goal to take the lead.
It was the perfect encapsulation of Leno’s year. Whatever magic he had a season ago is gone. He’s now closer to the player he was back in 2017. The Bears must now make a decision. Do they trust that he can collect himself this offseason and improve or is it time to see out a possible alternative?
Cutting Charles Leno Jr. is tricky but not impossible
Simply saying it’s time to move on from Leno is the easy part. The harder part is two-fold. How do they get out from under his contract and are there any replacements out there who can be better? The first answer is tough. Cutting Leno would net $2.9 million in salary cap space, but leave the Bears with $7.4 million in dead cap. Trading him does no better. The only way they can get a more preferable outcome is if they go with the post-June 1st cut. This would net the Bears a cool $8 million in cap space, pushing his dead money hit in 2021 and beyond.
This is similar to what the team did with Cody Parkey this past offseason in order to escape his bothersome contract. So we know it’s something Ryan Pace is aware of. Whether he is willing to do it may depend on how confident he is in finding a replacement. The 2020 draft class is reportedly strong on the offensive line this year, though the Bears have no 1st round pick. Free agency rarely offers any big options though some interesting names like Anthony Castonzo, D.J. Humphries, and Donald Penn will be available.
It won’t be easy. Still, the Bears can’t expect to win in 2020 if they can’t trust their offensive line to block properly. Leno hasn’t done his job. It’s time to find somebody who will.
