When it comes to building a solid roster in the NFL, it’s not always about having the best group of players. It’s about cultivating the best collection of team-friendly contracts.
General managers are tasked with finding talent at a bargain price, whether that it’s in the draft or through free agency, and building a roster that can contend for a Super Bowl title.
Bears GM Ryan Pace has certainly done a good job of capitalizing on players of financial value, whether that’s in free agency with Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or in the draft with Tarik Cohen and Eddie Jackson.
In terms of the friendliest contract for the Bears, it’s a no-brainer that it would be quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Anytime you have a quarterback on a rookie contract, it’s beneficial for your team.
With Trubisky on his rookie deal, the Bears have been able to add weapons such as Khalil Mack, Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel, Trey Burton and Cordarrelle Patterson, as well as re-sign Kyle Fuller, to help bolster a Super Bowl-caliber roster.
So it’s no surprise that Bleacher Report ranked Trubisky as the Bears’ friendliest deal.
Two Years Remaining on a Four-Year, $29 Million Deal
The difference between quarterbacks like Jackson and Allen and Chicago Bears signal-caller Mitchell Trubisky is the fact that Trubisky has proved himself a little more. Like Jackson, he led his team to the postseason in 2018, but he also racked up 3,223 yards passing and made the Pro Bowl.
Trubisky showed a tremendous amount of growth in his second NFL season, and he’s even the most popular bet for 2019 NFL MVP, according to Caesar’s Palace.
It’s difficult to argue that Trubisky isn’t one of the most important players on Chicago’s roster and the team’s best value. What’s he costing the Bears? A mere $7.9 million this season and $9.2 million in 2020. His contract also carries a fifth-year team option.
Thanks to Trubisky’s low cap hit, Chicago has been able to add top-tier free agents Trey Burton, Taylor Gabriel and Ha Ha Clinton-Dix over the past two offseasons.
The Bears should have a championship-caliber roster in 2019, and Trubisky’s contract is a big reason why.
As Trubisky enters his third year in the league, there’s an expectation for him to make a leap. He’s shown flashes of his potential, including in crunch time, but he still needs to prove he can be more consistent.
The Bears’ Super Bowl window is wide open. And with Trubisky under a friendly rookie deal, if the Bears are going to strike, it’s going to be within the next three seasons.
