The Chicago Bears have dealt their first salary cap-casualties of the offseason.
The Bears are releasing receiver Taylor Gabriel and cornerback Prince Amukamara, the team announced Friday.
#Bears roster update:
We have released DB Prince Amukamara and WR Taylor Gabriel.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) February 21, 2020
The release of Gabriel and Amukamara doesn’t really come as a surprise, considering both were discussed as potential cap-casualties throughout the offseason — and that the Bears have a ton of cap space they needed to clear.
Chicago will free up about $13.5 million in salary cap space ($9 million for Amukamara and $4.5 million for Gabriel) and there was only $3 million in dead money.
The Bears are currently around $27.1M in 2020 cap space, according to Over The Cap.
With the release of Amukamara, the Bears now have a big hole at cornerback opposite Kyle Fuller. While there are some players that could replace Amukamara currently on the roster in Kevin Toliver and newly-acquired Tre Roberson, it’s still likely that Chicago targets a cornerback this offseason.
Gabriel’s release leaves the Bears looking to add a speedy receiver through free agency or the NFL Draft, although they have a ton of young talent on their roster including Anthony Miller, Javon Wims and Riley Ridley.
Amukamara spent three seasons with the Bears (2017-19), where he had 29 pass breakups and 3 interceptions.
In Gabriel’s two seasons with Chicago (2018-19), he had 96 catches for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns in 25 games. But he also had two concussions last year, which shortened his season.
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