Chicago Bears Expected to Release Wide Receiver Eddie Royal

According to a recent report, the Chicago Bears will release veteran wide receiver Eddie Royal in the coming days.

The Chicago Bears have plenty of room under the cap to operate this off season. However, a little bit more wouldn’t hurt.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears are expected to release wide receiver Eddie Royal at some point this off season. Releasing Royal would create $5 million in cap space for the Bears.

"The Bears are expected to terminate the contract of veteran wide receiver Eddie Royal. However, they cannot do that until Royal can pass a physical. Royal underwent surgery on his left foot in late December to repair a turf toe injury."

The physical part certainly complicates things a bit, but it is probably safe to assume that the Bears will cut Royal as soon as they can.

Royal signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Bears in 2015. He was one of the major signings in Ryan Pace’s debut free agency as the general manager of the Chicago Bears. Pace has done a nice job in free agency, but it is fair to call this one a miss.

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There was some buzz around Royal when the Bears signed him. He was coming off of back-to-back impressive seasons with the San Diego Chargers, and Jay Cutler had success with him when they both played for the Denver Broncos in the past. At the time, it seemed like a strong move. Unfortunately, it never worked out.

Royal only played in nine games in each of the last two seasons with the Bears. In those two years combined, Royal only had 70 receptions for 607 yards and three touchdowns. He is a step slower than he used to be and that has absolutely killed him in the slot. The 31-year-old Royal may have a tough time finding a job with another NFL team.

Releasing Royal should give last year’s seventh-round selection Daniel Braverman an opportunity to compete as the Bears’ slot receiver. Braverman is a quick receiver who shows fantastic route running ability. He could become a major part of the Bears’ plans.

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I could also see the Bears looking outside of the organization to replace Royal in the slot. Free agent Kendall Wright may be a nice buy-low option for the Bears and guys like Cooper Kupp and Ryan Switzer would be strong targets for the team in the 2017 NFL Draft.

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