When the Chicago Bears signed two-time Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson to a mega four-year extension last week, it was a surprise given how the Bears already had such little salary cap space heading into 2020.
Details about Jackson’s $58.4 million extension have trickled out, and general manager Ryan Pace found a way to structure Jackson’s contract in a way that allows Chicago to have some decent cap space heading into free agency on March 18.
Jackson’s cap hit is projected to be $3.71 million this season, according to Over The Cap.
While the Bears are catching a break with Jackson’s cap hit in 2020, the same can’t be said in the future. Here’s a breakdown of what that cap hit is expected to look like over the next five years.
- 2020: $3.71
- 2021: $11.45
- 2022: $13.5
- 2023: $15.5
- 2024: $16.55
Pace can free up more cap space by releasing veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara ($8 million) and negating outside linebacker Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option ($13.22 million) before the start of the new league year on March 16. Then there’s right guard Kyle Long, who announced his retirement, which will free up $8.1 million in cap space.
Altogether, that would free up $29.32 million in salary cap space, should the Bears choose to move on from Amukamara and Floyd.
