The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Pace will embark on what feels like a foreign free agency experience in March.
No longer is the team searching for franchise fixers. Instead, Pace must find role players who can convert the Bears from a playoff qualifier to a Super Bowl champion, and sometimes that means keeping critical starters from a season ago under contract.
Two Bears starters are due to hit unrestricted free agency in a few weeks: safety Adrian Amos and slot corner Bryce Callahan.
The depth of the free-agent safety class and the overall market value of the position shouldn’t create any panic at Halas Hall; if the Bears want Amos back, they should have little trouble re-signing him, even if he makes a few visits around the league.
Cornerback is a different issue altogether, however, and it’s possible the only way for Pace to retain Callahan is by placing the franchise tag on him in an effort to buy time for a multi-year contract to be negotiated.
But that strategy is cost prohibitive.
The Bears have a lot of money already tied up in Kyle Fuller ($14 million per year) and Prince Amukamara ($9 million per year). Chicago has nearly 15 percent of their overall cap committed to the active roster’s defensive backs, and that’s without Callahan and the potential $15.9 million franchise tag price.
Callahan’s expected market value is in the $7 million-per-season range, according to Spotrac, and if the Bears can lock him up to a multi-year deal that pays around that amount, it’s a win.
But it’s hard imagining a Callahan return if he hits the open market. He will be one of the top free-agent defenders available at a position teams are more than willing to overpay.
Callahan was a big part of the Bears’ success in 2018, but the December foot injury that landed him on injured reserve was just another in a growing list of bumps and bruises that have limited his overall growth as a pro.
Combine Callahan’s injury with the effective play of Sherrick McManis in his absence, and the Bears shouldn’t overreact with the franchise tag. Yes, Callahan is a very good player, but he just hasn’t done enough to risk a $15.9 million payday on.
Callahan’s prospects for a return could come down to the franchise tag or bust. And if that’s the case, the Bears should take a hard pass.
