The Chicago Bears enter training camp with a decent salary cap situation, especially following news of one prominent defensive player opting out of the 2020 season.
The biggest storyline from the start of camp last week was nose tackle Eddie Goldman choosing to opt out of the 2020 season due to health and safety concerns amid the COVID-19 pandemic. While Goldman’s loss is a brutal blow to Chicago’s defense, it also impacts the team’s salary cap situation in 2020.
With Goldman off the books for the 2020 season, that freed up roughly $3.2 million giving the Bears roughly $18.8 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap.
Which should help given Chicago’s current situation at nose tackle. John Jenkins, who was the in-house favorite to take over for Goldman this season, was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, which puts his status up in the air and leaves the Bears without a true nose tackle on the roster.
With roughly $18 million in cap space, general manager Ryan Pace could turn to free agency to sign someone like Damon Harrison or Mike Daniels to a one-year deal for insurance on the defensive line.
The Bears also have questions at running back, as they don’t have a proven backup to David Montgomery. Right now Ryan Nall is the presumptive third running back on the 53-man roster, but the Bears have some money if they’d like to bring in a proven veteran, such as Devonta Freeman or Lamar Miller, to join Montgomery and Tarik Cohen.
Although the Bears need to be careful with their cap space given the potential impact in 2021. The salary cap in 2021 could be reduced as much as $23 million due to potential revenue losses from minimal attendance at games with the COVID-19 pandemic.
Still, the Bears are in a good position with roughly $18 million in cap space. Although wide receiver Allen Robinson is due a worthy extension as he enters the final year of his three-year contract with the Bears.
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