The Chicago Bears free agency plan for 2018 will be layered and detailed. Every path they could choose must have contingencies in case their original idea doesn’t work out. GM Ryan Pace knows he’ll be behind the eight ball this year. His 2017 class may have been one of the worst in recent franchise history. Mike Glennon, Markus Wheaton, and Marcus Cooper were all high priced additions who failed spectacularly upon arrival this season.
Only cornerback Prince Amukamara seemed like a quality addition and that was a small consolation. Suffice to say Pace has to do a lot better this year. That’s especially true now that he has a new coaching staff coming in and a young quarterback to build around. He has to score a couple hits to get this team off on the right foot.
No position needs that more than at wide receiver. The Bears passing offense was a disaster this season, finishing dead last in the NFL. Losses at receiver were a huge factor. Alshon Jeffery left for Philadelphia. Cameron Meredith tore his ACL. The lack of playmaking skill at the position now is beyond evident. They need help.
Luckily the free agent market could serve up an instant solution.
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Chicago Bears free agency plan could hinge on Jarvis Landry
Something a person learns early on about free agency? The best players almost never reach the open market. This became clearer than ever when the franchise tag was introduced back in 2007. Since then most big names, Pro Bowlers in particular, didn’t become available except on rare occasions. It seems one may be developing down in South Beach.
According to the Miami Herald, there is a resentment among wide receiver Jarvis Landry and Dolphins management over his contract. It seems he feels slighted by their negotiating tactics to this point. So much that some think he’s destined to shop his wares in March.
“My agent and I talked about being a leader and setting a good example, so I silenced all those things by going to OTAs and training camp, by putting the team first and being a team guy.
I feel like in the NFL, they preach loyalty and family and they have none for you. As a player, you see it’s not a family during negotiations, how it becomes them versus me or me versus them. That’s part of the NFL I believe the fans don’t see.
From the offer process until this point was disrespectful,” Landry told the Herald. “I tried to handle it the right way and figured if a team values you and wants you to be a part of the team, why haven’t they answered in the past month?”
Franchise tag may not be an option in Landry’s case
It would be easy to say the Dolphins have the ace in their back pocket with the tag. Except that may not be the case. As of now Miami is projected to have less than $9 million available in salary cap space when the new league year begins. Considering the tag projections for a receiver will be upwards of $16 million, that is nowhere near enough. They’d have to clear out over $7 million in space just to fit Landry underneath the cap. That would still not leave them enough to handle other deals.
Landry might be the most gifted slot receiver in football. He’s a matchup nightmare due to his mixture of speed, quickness and sharp route running. There is no greater threat on third downs than him. He’s currently attending his third Pro Bowl since 2015 and won’t turn 26-years old until November. If ever there was a player the Bears should go all-in on, it’s him.
They have the pressing need and the required cash to meet his demands. It will be a matter of whether Pace is willing to spend and whether they can sell Landry on coming to Chicago.
