Here’s how the Chicago Bears can free up $34 million in salary cap space this summer

RC Nazemi

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Here’s how the Chicago Bears can free up $34 million in salary cap space this summer image

Nam Y. Huh/AP Images

The Chicago Bears certainly gave their fans quite a season to remember. They finished 11-6, won the NFC North, and even won a massive playoff game against their arch-rival Green Bay Packers. 

Obviously, the ultimate goal every year is to win a Super Bowl, but to see how far ahead of schedule Chicago is after this season is a win in itself. 

To see this kind of success with a first-year head coach, second-year QB, and an offense riddled with talented rookies, it seems to be only up from here for them. 

It will be interesting to see what this team looks like next season, as the Bears have many players heading into free agency and some holes to fill, specifically on defense. 

It's yet to be seen whether the Bears attempt to bring back their own guys and run it back, or swap some players via free agency. Regardless of which way they go, there is a way they can create much more cap space than is presently available. 

Bears can create upwards of $34M in cap space

The Chicago Bears are in one of the best spots you can be in as a team: coming fresh off an overperforming season with nowhere to go but up. 

With some work to do in order to maintain that upward trajectory, the Bears can create up to $34 million extra in cap space by simply restructuring three contracts. By converting guaranteed salary to bonuses and utilizing void years, the Bears could have a whole new offseason outlook. 

By restructuring the contracts of DJ Moore, Joe Thuney, and Grady Jarrett, they could make it happen. 

This extra money could be used to bring back players like key secondary pieces Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker, CJ Gardner-Johnson, and Nahshon Wright. They could also use it to bring in new pieces or to further secure a defensive line that cost them at times. 

The draft is riddled with defensive line talent, so it might not be a terrible idea to fill the group that way, but regardless, the Bears could give themselves much more wiggle room to do whatever they'd like. 

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Editorial Team