Tag: Nick Williams

2020 NFL Free Agency: Danny Trevathan is best Bears target for Saints

NFL free agency is nearly here, and Chicago Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan could be a great fit for the New Orleans Saints in 2020.

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New Orleans has the ability to add a couple of significant pieces to the team in 2020 through free agency. As such, we continue our series in which we break down every team in the NFL’s free agents heading into the offseason. Today, we take a look at possible options for the Saints from the Chicago Bears.

  • ILB Danny Trevathan
  • QB Chase Daniel
  • FS HaHa Clinton-Dix
  • S Sherrick McMannis
  • OLB Aaron Lynch
  • TE Bradley Sowell
  • G Ted Larsen
  • DT Nick Williams
  • LT Cornelius Lucas
  • LS Patrick Scales
  • OLB Kevin Pierre-Louis
  • DE Brent Urban
  • RT T.J. Clemmings
  • ILB Nick Kwiatkoski
  • S Deon Bush
  • TE J.P. Holtz (ERFA)
  • S DeAndre Houston-Carson (RFA)
  • DT Roy Robertson-Harris (RFA)
  • OLB Isaiah Irving (RFA)
  • RT Rashaad Coward (RFA)
  • OLB Devante Bond (RFA)

A name to keep an eye on is linebacker Danny Trevathan. 2019 saw Trevathan go down in Week 10 against the Detroit Lions with a nasty elbow injury. Prior to his exit, Trevathan averaged over 97% of the Bears defensive snaps. As a soon-to-be 30-year old linebacker, this free agency cycle will most likely be the one where he is looking to make top dollar. However, if New Orleans can rearrange cap space, a significant upgrade to the linebacker corps, such as Trevathan, could help the Saints produce one of the better defenses in the league.

Defensive tackle Nick Williams would slot nicely into the Saints defensive line. Williams, who also turns 30-years old this month, would help provide solid coverage to a defensive line with a lot of questions marks heading into 2020. Williams finally had a breakout season in 2020, and with such a small sample size, he may find it hard when looking for a top-dollar, multi-year deal. New Orleans could capitalize on his recent surge and bring him in to shore things up along the line.

Finally, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis could be a fantastic depth option for New Orleans to add to the club. With potential cap casualties, such as linebacker Kiko Alonso, Pierre-Louis could provide extra cover in the case the Saints don’t bring in another top end option at the position. Pierre-Louis flew under the radar in 2019 due to the fact he only started three games. However, those three games proved enough that he could be a viable, and cheaper option for depth at the linebacker position.

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5 Bears players that stepped up in 2019

Even in a disappointing 8-8 season there were some players that really shined for the Bears in 2019.

There’s no sugarcoating the fact that the Chicago Bears were a bad football team in 2019. While there was a time where 8-8 would’ve been considered a win, things have changed since the ushering in of the Matt Nagy era.

Coming off a 12-4 record, a divisional title and a playoff berth, things were looking up for the NFL’s charter franchise. Instead, what ensued was a complete fall from grace, led by Chicago’s inept offense.

But even in a disappointing season there were some players that really shined. Here are five players that really stepped up their game in a disappointing 2019 season:

1. WR Allen Robinson

Adam Bettcher/Getty Images

Receiver Allen Robinson was the lone bright spot on an abysmal Bears offense in 2019. He caught 98 passes for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns in 2019. Robinson became the first Bears receiver to eclipse 1,000 yards since 2014.

Robinson’s solid performance was made even more impressive by the fact that he had to deal with inconsistent quarterback play, lack of a run game and a unit that never found a rhythm. Robinson has made it clear that he wants to remain with the Bears long-term, and you figure he’s the next man up for a contract extension.

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4 pending free agents the Bears need to re-sign

The Bears can’t re-sign every free agent, but there are some players they need to make it a priority to keep in Chicago.

The offseason is in full swing, and we’re just a couple months away from the start of the new league year and free agency. And the Bears have some important decisions to make when it comes to in-house free agents.

It’s impossible for the Bears to keep everyone — especially considering their salary cap situation, where they currently have just over $7 million in available cap space, according to Over The Cap.

But there are some players that the Bears need to make it a priority to keep in Chicago in 2020 and beyond.

Here are 4 pending free agents the Bears must re-sign this offseason:

1. ILB Nick Kwiatkoski

AP Photo/Sarah Stier

When it comes down to it, the Bears are going to have to choose between Danny Trevathan and Nick Kwiatkoski. Earlier in the season, it would’ve been an easy win for Trevathan, who was playing some of his best football. But Trevathan’s elbow injury in Week 10 and Kwiatkoski’s subsequent impressive performance soon made things more difficult.

But when it comes to deciding who to sign to an extension, the answer becomes obvious. Naturally, the Bears should sign the younger, healthier and cheaper option, which is Kwiatkoski, to pair with Roquan Smith in 2020.

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These Bears are set to become free agents in 2020

The Bears have several veterans that will hit the open market at the start of the new league year.

The Chicago Bears will be turning to free agency and the NFL Draft to address their offseason needs. With free agency roughly two months away, general manager Ryan Pace has some work to do in-house with a slew of Bears players set to hit the open market on March 18.

Pace will have a decision to make at inside linebacker, which includes three Bears set to become free agents in Danny Trevathan, Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis.

He’ll also have a decision to make on the defensive line in free agents Nick Williams and Roy Robertson-Harris, both who stepped up in Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols’ absences in 2019.

Let’s take a look at the Bears set to become free agents (unrestricted and restricted) in 2020:

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Who’s next in line for a contract extension with Bears?

Safety Eddie Jackson’s four-year extension was the first of several moves Bears GM Ryan Pace is expected to make in-house this offseason.

The Chicago Bears wasted no time inking two-time Pro Bowl safety Eddie Jackson to a massive four-year contract extension on Friday — worth $58.4 million with $33 million guaranteed — making him the NFL’s highest-paid safety.

It was the first of several moves general manager Ryan Pace is expected to make in-house this offseason prior to free agency on March 16.

Here are six players that could be next in line for a contract extension with the Bears:

1. WR Allen Robinson

AP Photo/Adam Hunger

Receiver Allen Robinson has expressed his desire to retire a Chicago Bear, and the team certainly will honor his request, at least for the foreseeable future. Robinson has one year left on his three-year deal, and he’s proven to be a clear-cut No. 1 receiver for this team.

In 2019, Robinson had 98 catches for 1,147 yards and seven touchdowns. He became the Bears’ first 1,000-yard receiver since Alshon Jeffery in 2014.

But it’s the circumstances that Robinson has achieved his success that speaks louder than even some of his stats. The Bears offense was one of the worst in the NFL, and Robinson still managed to thrive with poor quarterback play and teams knowing that he was going to be the go-to target.

Robinson should be the next guy the Bears lock down. Period.

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Nick Williams will ‘have fun in free agency,’ but wants to remain with Bears

Bears DT Nick Williams burst onto the NFL scene in 2019, which should bring suitors for him in free agency. But he’d prefer to stay put.

If you watched Bears defensive tackle Nick Williams this season, you wouldn’t have known he was a veteran that suddenly burst onto the NFL scene in his seventh season.

Williams had a career season with the Bears, where he stepped up when his team needed him as they dealt with injuries on the defensive line with Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols. And Williams didn’t just play good — he played great in all 16 games he appeared in, including five starts.

“The way it happened, nobody could’ve wrote a better story,” Williams said. “Being on the street in ’17 and the Bears giving me a shot in ’18, coming back here in ’19 and actually being able to contribute to the team and play the way that I did. I just wanted to gain the respect of my teammates and let the organization and the coaches know that they made a good decision in bringing me in.”

Williams finished the season with 42 total tackles, including five for loss, as well as six sacks. This season has certainly opened many eyes to Williams, which bodes well for him in free agency. But Williams would prefer to remain in Chicago.

“I think I’m gonna have fun in free agency this year,” said Williams. “We’ll see what happens in the future. Obviously, I want to be back here. I want to be a Bear. I love this organization. They’ve afforded me a lot of great opportunities. I like this locker room. I like my teammates. We’ll see what happens.”

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Bears tight on cap space as NFL projects salary cap increase as high as $201.2M in 2020

The 2020 NFL salary cap is projected to be between $196.8 and $201.2 million, leaving the Bears just over the salary cap for 2020 right now.

NFL teams are going to have a lot more money to play with this offseason as the 2020 NFL salary cap is projected to be between $196.8 and $201.2 million.

The salary cap is expected to increase by more than $8 million from the current cap of $188.2 million, but it’s still going to be challenging for Bears general manager Ryan Pace heading into a busy offseason.

The Bears have roughly $202 million committed to the salary cap in 2020, according to Over the Cap. Depending on where the NFL and NFLPA agree to set next year’s salary cap, the Bears need to clear between $1.8 and $6.2 million just to get under the projected salary cap.

It won’t be easy for Pace, but he’s managed to get creative in creating cap space. His offseason priorities are locking up some players in-house, including safety Eddie Jackson, receiver Allen Robinson and linebacker Kwiatkoski, who is an unrestricted free agent in 2020.

Among the Bears’ in-house free agents in 2020 are linebacker Danny Trevathan, safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, defensive back/special teams ace Sherrick McManis, defensive tackle Nick Williams, linebacker Kevin Pierre-Louis and quarterback Chase Daniel.

Pace could manage extra cap space by releasing players like right guard Kyle Long, cornerback Prince Amukamara and receiver Taylor Gabriel, who combined would give the Bears an extra $20.6 million in cap space, among others.

Chicago has a lot of needs to address this offseason — be it in free agency or the NFL Draft — including tight end, offensive line, edge rusher and backup quarterback.

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Giants vs. Bears: 6 things to know about Week 12

The New York Giants and Chicago Bears square off on Sunday in Week 12, so here are six things fans should know.

The New York Giants (2-8) head out to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears (4-6) in a meeting between two of the NFC’s most disappointing teams this season.

Here are six things to know:

Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

The history

This is the 52nd meeting between two of the NFL’s most iconic franchises dating back to 1925. With a win on Sunday the Giants would improve their all-time record against the Bears to 22-28-2. A victory this week would also improve the Giants’ road record against the Bears to 12-13.

The Giants are making their first trip to Soldier Field since 2013, a 27-21 Bears victory on Thursday Night Football in Week 6.

The teams have met just 18 times since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger and had played only three times between 1970 and the January 5, 1986 NFC Divisional Playoff game in which the Bears shut the Giants out, 21-0, at Soldier Field.

The Giants are 7-5 against the Bears since the teams last met in the postseason — a 31-3 victory in the 1991 NFC Divisional Playoffs.

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WATCH: Who keeps pranking Tarik Cohen in the Bears’ locker room?

The Bears shared a hilarious behind-the-scenes exchange, where someone is pranking RB Tarik Cohen.

Tarik Cohen knows he’s short. In fact, he’s one of the shorter players in the NFL.

So even when opposing teams mock his 5-foot-6 stature, as the New Orleans Saints did in Week 7, it’s not a big deal to him.

But a hilarious behind-the-scenes exchange showed the challenges that come for a smaller player like Cohen in a league of tall men. In a simple video interview with Nick Williams, Cohen could be heard in the background yelling:

“WHO KEEPS PUTTING THE TOWELS ON THE TOP SHELF?”

Despite his height, Cohen has proven to be one of the league’s dynamic playmakers, where he excels in the run and pass game, as well as a speedster on punt returns.

The Bears will be looking for his star to shine come Sunday night against the Los Angeles Rams.

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