The Chicago Bears were faced with a tough decision when the 2020 offseason began. They had limited salary cap space and a number of roster issues that needed fixing. They also had two quality inside linebackers who were becoming free agents. One was an older veteran but team leader Danny Trevathan. The other was rising youngster Nick Kwiatkoski. Both had played really well in 2019. Both undoubtedly expected to be starters this year. So the Bears had to pick one to keep with full knowledge the other was going to walk.
In the end, they went with Trevathan, handing him a three-year extension. While Kwiatkoski had the advantage of youth, the Bears seemed to feel Trevathan offered more in terms of leadership and athleticism. Kwiatkoski quietly exited in free agency and signed a nice three-year deal to join the Las Vegas Raiders as a starter. It was a great outcome for him.
The full story though is a bit deeper. During an interview with Tashan Reed of The Athletic, the linebacker talked about how he rose from 4th round pick to backup and now a starter. When the subject of free agency came up, he indicated the Trevathan extension news didn’t reach him until it went public.
Kwiatkoski didn’t know what was going to happen after the season. He knew he’d played well but he was aware the Bears didn’t intend to hold onto both him and Trevathan. When they signed Trevathan to a three-year extension on March 12, the writing was on the wall.
“It was a unique situation in Chicago and, honestly, I had no idea,” Kwiatkoski said. “As it came closer to free agency, it kind of played itself out and I knew I was going to have to go somewhere else.”
Nick Kwiatkoski still loves the Bears but his exit could’ve been handled better
This is another reminder that the NFL is a cold business. Kwiatkoski did everything he could to show the Bears he could be their long-term starter. Unfortunately, Trevathan’s status on the team was just too strong. Yet one would think GM Ryan Pace, the guy who traded up to draft him in 2016 might’ve at least placed a courtesy phone call to warn him that the extension was in the works.
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It’s doubtful that was done out of any sort of malice. More likely the Bears just wanted to get the deal done quickly before free agency began. Warning Kwiatkoski wasn’t a priority. Harsh, but true. In the end, the guy can’t complain too much. He ended up getting a nice deal from the Raiders and will play in a brand new stadium in a much warmer climate down in Vegas.