Ryan Pace has been active this offseason with not only adding free agents and trading for kickers, but also finding ways to create additional cap space by restructuring contracts of current players. He continued that approach this week with one of the team’s best offensive linemen.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, the Bears converted $7 million of left tackle Charles Leno Jr.’s base salary into a signing bonus, creating an additional $5.6 million in cap space to use this season.
While it’s unclear as to how Pace and the Bears will use the extra cap space, the expectation is that it will contribute to an extension for left guard Cody Whitehair, who appears next in line to receive a long-term deal prior to the season. Whitehair is entering the final year of his rookie contract.
Pace has consistently extended players shortly before the season kicks off, including Leno, Kyle Long, Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman.
Leno, who made his first Pro Bowl last season, signed a four-year extension worth $38 million with $21.5 million guaranteed in August 2017. The deal came less than 12 months after the team extended Long, who also restructured his contract for the 2019 season.
