The Bears had an important decision to make at inside linebacker this offseason — re-sign Danny Trevathan or Nick Kwiatkoski.
While there was a ton of debate as to whether the Bears should extend Trevathan or Kwiatkoski, general manager Ryan Pace ultimately made the decision to keep Trevathan in Chicago after he played out his four-year contract he signed back in 2016.
The Bears signed Trevathan to a three-year extension to keep him on the Bears through 2022, which is an important move for a Chicago defense looking to maintain their dominance from the previous two seasons.
Here are five takeaways from Trevathan’s extension with the Bears:
1. The Bears locked up a valuable member of their defense
There’s been a lot of discussion about Nick Kwiatkoski supplanting Trevathan as Chicago’s starting linebacker opposite Roquan Smith. But what seemed to get lost in all of that hype was the fact that Trevathan has been a big reason for the success of this defense over the last few years.
When healthy, Trevathan is an absolute force in this defense. Trevathan was playing some of his best football at the time of his elbow injury. He had 70 tackles in nine games, second only to Smith’s 99 after 13 games. Now, the Bears get to keep the duo of Trevathan and Smith together for the foreseeable future, which should be nothing short of thrilling for Bears fans.
2. Ryan Pace made the right decision
The Bears would’ve done well to keep either Trevathan or Nick Kwiatkoski on their roster for 2020 and beyond. Both inside linebackers were playing their best football for the Bears last season, with Trevathan playing lights out and Kwiatkoski having a career season in relief of Trevathan.
Sure, Kwiatkoski was the younger, less injury-prone option. But Trevathan has proven himself to be a valuable member of the Bears defense. Not to mention, depending on how free agency salaries play out, Pace might’ve been able to save himself some money in the process.
3. Bears should also be able to extend Kevin Pierre-Louis for depth
The Bears starting linebacker corps. are set for the 2020 season and beyond with Trevathan and Roquan Smith. But with Trevathan’s signing, Chicago can also afford to bring back Kevin Pierre-Louis, who shined in relief of the injured Smith in the final four games of 2019.
Sure, it would’ve been nice to keep Kwiatkoski. But now, the Bears can secure Trevathan and Pierre-Louis for what figures to be the same price as Kwiatkoski will get as a top inside linebacker in free agency. That, and the Bears could ensure continued depth at inside linebacker by bringing back Pierre-Louis.
4. Nick Kwiatkoski is going to get paid in free agency – just not with Bears
With Trevathan’s extension, Kwiatkoski’s future in Chicago is all but done. Not that he hadn’t earned a contract extension — he did — but Pace had to make a decision based on a number of factors in what’s best for his team.
Kwiatkoski had career highs with 76 combined tackles, three sacks, four pass breakups and a safety, as well as one forced fumble last season for the Bears. He was one of the better defenders down the stretch for Chicago.
Ultimately, it appears as though the Bears’ decision to go with Trevathan involved saving money. Which is good news for Kwiatkoski, who is set to get paid in free agency. Just, for the love of all that it holy, don’t let it be with the Packers.
5. Trevathan’s extension could affect whether Leonard Floyd stays or goes
The Bears have just days to make a decision regarding the future of outside linebacker Leonard Floyd. Pace picked up Floyd’s fifth-year option last year, which would pay Floyd $13.2 million this year. Floyd hasn’t been as productive as Chicago would like, although Pace insists that they’re happy with where Floyd is at.
But with Trevathan’s extension, Floyd’s future has become murky. There were already NFL teams that believe Floyd will become a cap-casualty. And with the Bears reportedly investing $24 million into Trevathan for three years, it seems now more than ever that Floyd could be on the chopping block.
The Bears have until the start of the new league year on Wednesday to release Floyd before his $13.2 million salary becomes fully guaranteed.
