The rumors persisted for months that the Chicago Bears might trade Robert Quinn. It made too much sense. He’s 32 years old and on an expensive contract. He was coming off arguably the best season of his career with 18.5 sacks. The Bears are clearly rebuilding. Nothing came together in the offseason. GM Ryan Poles seemed content to keep one proven lineman on the roster. That changed when the Philadelphia Eagles came calling.
GM Howie Roseman wanted to get his team some extra juice for their Super Bowl push. In exchange for eating most of Quinn’s remaining 2022 salary, the Bears secured a 4th round pick in the 2023 draft. Poles said it was a deal he couldn’t afford to pass up. It benefits all sides. Philadelphia deepens their pass rush, Quinn joins a contender, and Chicago secures more future assets. Not only do they get the pick, but Quinn’s contract comes off the books in 2023. That means more cap space.
According to cap expert Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus, the Bears are in line to have a ridiculous $125 million next spring.
Max Bears could retain is $6.488M with a minimum salary traveling to Philly, and that's what they did.
That was the only way this was getting done, and a 4th is a great return. Bears still save the $622K heading to Philly from not rolling over into 2023 https://t.co/nsJkeWzvfr
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 26, 2022
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Only true change for Bears is $622K salary that goes to Philly no longer rolls over. They weren’t gonna pay his non-guaranteed $14M compensation next season anyway
Chicago now at $115M(!!) in 2023 cap space, almost double the next-highest team https://t.co/o5tuJ0FPWy
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 26, 2022
Whoops, that’s pre-Quinn. $125M!
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) October 26, 2022
The Chicago Bears can pursue anybody they want.
Early previews of the 2023 free agent class are mixed. It isn’t the most star-studded group, but there are plenty of quality names Poles could go after if he wishes. Here is a list of names to remember once the off-season begins.
- RT Kaleb McGary
- RT Orlando Brown
- RT Jawaan Taylor
- OL Elgton Jenkins
- LT Isaiah Wynn
- C Garrett Bradbury
- TE Mike Gesicki
- TE Dalton Schultz
- WR Mecole Hardman
- EDGE Bradley Chubb
- EDGE Samson Ebukaum
- DT Dre’Mont Jones
- DT Da’Ron Payne
There is no shortage of players that could help them. It comes down to what kind of spending Poles is prepared to do. Don’t expect the Chicago Bears to throw all that money away in one off-season. There is a strong likelihood they’ll spend some of it and set the rest aside for later as the rebuild continues. If the resources are handled well, the possibility is high this team will get better much faster than expected.
