Just as one pass rusher enters, another one leaves Chicago.
After the Bears agreed to terms with pass rusher Robert Quinn on a monster five-year deal worth $70 million with $30 million in guaranteed money, that essentially sealed Leonard Floyd’s fate in Chicago.
The Bears are planning to release former first-round pick Leonard Floyd, according to Ian Rapoport.
The #Bears are also planning to release former first-rounder Leonard Floyd, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2020
Ultimately, the Bears get out of Floyd’s fifth-year option and free up $13.2 million in salary cap space, which you figure opened up the door to bring in Quinn and helps with Chicago’s already-limited cap space.
The move doesn’t really come as a surprise considering Floyd’s disappointing production over his first four seasons. Every season, Floyd’s sack total has declined since he entered the league in 2016.
In 2019, Floyd managed a career-low three sacks during a season in which he played in every game. That, lining up opposite stud edge rusher Khalil Mack.
Floyd is the latest first round pick of Ryan Pace’s to fail to make it past the fourth year on the team. Receiver Kevin White was Pace’s first failure, and the writing seems to be on the wall with Mitchell Trubisky.
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