The Chicago Bears have some tough decisions ahead of them next spring. It’s clear the roster might undergo some notable retooling in order to make what has been a disappointing team a playoff contender again. This could mean several names that people might not expect getting the boot out of town in one way or another. There are some obvious names. Kyle Long is all but guaranteed to be out. The same goes for Adam Shaheen. Prince Amukamara and Taylor Gabriel might get consideration as well.
However, draft expert Matt Miller of Bleacher Report told Bernstein & McKnight of 670 The Score that there may end up being another name they sacrifice. One who isn’t quite the disappointment Mitch Trubisky or Kevin White have been but hasn’t lived up to his own draft billing as well.
“You know Leonard Floyd. A player who…it’s not fair to call him a draft bust but he’s not one of the best outside linebackers in football and for a guy who’s going to be making $12 million next year, that’s another tough conversation. And you look at Leonard Floyd and think, ‘Okay, we can get out of that contract with no dead cap money on the 5th year deal.’
Twelve million dollars can mean the difference between Cam Newton and Andy Dalton or Ryan Tannehill at a position that has to get better.”
Chicago Bears can replace what Leonard Floyd brings
Coaches have argued for weeks that Floyd is serving a valuable purpose on defense for the Bears. He’s a really good run defender and one of the best coverage linebackers in the league. That’s all fine and good. Except that isn’t what the team drafted him for. Floyd was plucked out of Georgia 9th overall in 2016 with one overarching purpose: to hunt quarterbacks.
With six games left in his fourth season, the 27-year old has 18.5 sacks. It should be pointed out that T.J. Watt, who was drafted a year later and with the 30th overall pick already has 30.5 sacks in his career. The fact Floyd has just three sacks in 2019 despite playing across from Khalil Mack is inexcusable. Is a player that can do what he does worth $13.22 million? No. He will be making more than Preston Smith, who already has 10.5 sacks this season.
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The Bears stayed patient and gave him every opportunity to excel. It looked like he might be turning the corner at the end of 2018. Sadly that wasn’t the case. Miller is right. It’s time to move on. They can use that saved money to help other areas of the roster that need it. If it’s a good run defender and coverage linebacker they want, they can find one of those on Day 2 of the draft.
