Analyzing the Bears’ signings, cuts and roster moves this offseason:
March 12
Bell to the Jets. When the Bears cleared cap space this week, fans were hoping for a home-run swing from general manager Ryan Pace. Cross the biggest name off the list: Le’Veon Bell, the former Steelers running back, said Tuesday night he was signing with the Jets. Bell, who sat out last season rather than play under the franchise tag, will make $52.5 million over four years, per the NFL Network.
A new return man. The Bears agreed to sign Cordarrelle Patterson, the Patriots’ kick return star, to a two-year contract worth $10 million. Patterson torched the Bears when the two teams met last year, returning a kickoff for a 95-yard touchdown in a game the Bears lost by seven. A receiver by trade, he contributed at running back for the Patriots this season. He’ll be an intriguing chess piece for Matt Nagy’s creative offense.
Amos with Cheese. The Bears are losing starting safety Adrian Amos to the Packers — he’ll make $37 million over four years, with $12 million guaranteed. A starter for four years, Amos was considered a solid, if not spectacular, contributor on the Bears’ back end. The team must now finding his replacement, cognizant that it will have to pay fellow safety Eddie Jackson a large extension at this time next year. Earl Thomas, the former Seahawks safety, is the biggest name left on the market.
Moving more money around. The Bears created $11 million in camp space when they converted $13 million of Khalil Mack’s salary and roster bonus into a signing bonus, according to ESPN. The move had been considered a possibility for months — the Bears reworked deals for Kyle Long and Eddie Goldman to create space. Whether the Bears intend to spend that money on the top end of the talent pool or not, they have additional salary cap flexibility.
March 11
Bellamy goes to New York. One of the longest-tenured Bears is headed to the Jets. Wide receiver Josh Bellamy, who first joined the Bears in 2014, will be joining Gang Green, a source confirmed. He’ll make $2.75 million guaranteed and as much as $7 million over two years, a source said. Bellamy caught at least 14 passes and one score in each of the last four seasons and was considered one of the Bears’ top special teams players. He played only 57.7 percent of the Bears’ special teams snaps last year, though, in part because he was needed at wideout.
Buster move. The Bears are signing former Jets cornerback Buster Skrine for three years and $16.5 million, with $8.5 million guaranteed, per NFL Network. Skrine will be the Bears’ starting slot cornerback, taking the place of Bryce Callahan, who figures to sign elsewhere. Before the Bears played the Jets this season, coach Matt Nagy heaped praise on the 29 year-old. “He’s one of the better nickels in this league, if not the best,” Nagy said. “I mean, he’s good. He’s a good nickel in there.”
Bears add a running back. The Bears are signing former Seahawks running back Mike Davis, as first reported by NFL Network. He was drafted in the fourth round by the 49ers in 2015. He finally broke out last season, gaining 514 yards and scoring four touchdowns on 112 carries for the Seahawks. He also caught 34 passes for 214 yards and a score.
Braunecker back. The Bears are re-signing tight end tight end Ben Braunecker to a two-year deal, the team said Monday. A restricted free agent, Braunecker played 56 percent of the Bears’ special teams snaps last year. He caught three passes for 42 yards, too. Bringing back Braunecker will not dissuade the Bears from pursuing a blocking tight end; the Harvard alum is considered more of a pass-catcher.
More salary cap maneuvering. To help free up $2.25 million in cap space, the Bears converted nose tackle Eddie Goldman’s roster bonus into a signing bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPN. The move pushes the Bears’ cap space to $19.6 million.
March 7
Chris Blewitt enters the kicker competition. The Bears signed their second unproven kicker of the offseason when they added Chris Blewitt, a former Pitt kicker who had been unable to gain traction in the NFL. By the time Blewitt graduated college in 2016, he was Pitt’s all-time leader with 363 points scored by a kicker, 55 field goals and 198 PATs.
March 5
Bears cut OLB Sam Acho. The Bears freed up $2.1 million in camp space by cutting the veteran outside linebacker, who started 25 games over four years. Before tearing his pec last season, Acho was the Bears’ fourth outside linebacker — behind Khalil Mack, Leonard Floyd and Aaron Lynch.
Feb. 26
Bears rework G Kyle Long’s contract. The Bears reworked Long’s contract, freeing up about $2 million in cap space for the offseason and guaranteeing his return next season. With Long back, the Bears will return all five starting offensive linemen — center Cody Whitehair, guards James Daniels and Long, and tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie — to next year’s team.
Feb. 22
Bears to release Cody Parkey. A source confirmed last month that the Bears intended to cut kicker Cody Parkey, who missed eight field goals and three extra points in his only year with the team, when the league year begins Wednesday. General manager Ryan Pace confirmed the move at the NFL Scouting Combine, listing the traits he desired in a new kicker. Chief among them: leg strength to cut through the wind and cold at Soldier Field. Parkey will be cut with a post-June 1 designation, moving more than $1 million of his cap hit to 2020.
Feb. 21
Bears cut TE Dion Sims. By releasing the blocking tight end, the Bears saved $6 million in cap space for the upcoming season. Signed to a three-year deal in 2017, Sims caught only 15 passes in his first year with the team, and two last year. The team is expected to pursue a veteran tight end who can block at the line of scrimmage. Their two top tight ends, Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen, are primarily pass-catchers.
Jan. 28
Bobby Massie signs contract extension. Rather than test free agency, the Bears’ starting right tackle agreed to a four-year contract extension. He’ll make $14.5 million guaranteed and as much as $30.8 million total. Massie has been solid during his three years in a Bears uniform.
Jan. 26
Redford Jones gets a chance. After holding a kicker tryout at Halas Hall, the Bears agreed to sign Jones, who made 50-of-67 field goals at Tulsa from 2015-17 but did not kick for a pro team last year.
