Chicago Bears: Grading every free agency move by Ryan Pace
By Ryan Heckman
Jerrell Freeman and Quintin Demps were maybe the most obvious cuts on the defensive side of the ball.
Jerrell Freeman
Pace needed to cut ties with Freeman, regardless of the fact that when he was on the field, he was one of the best players on the field. Unfortunately for Freeman, that time was really only in 2016 where he played 12 games and finished with 110 tackles.
In 2017, Freeman landed on injured reserve with a torn pectoral on top of a concussion. To make matters worse, in October Freeman was suspended 10 games for violating the league’s rules on PEDs.
The Bears saved $3.5 million by cutting Freeman, and replacing him will be either Nick Kwiatoski, a rookie or possibly a player who is cut later — either way, a replacement is likely to be younger than Freeman at 31.
Grade: B
Quintin Demps
Demps was signed just last year and by cutting him just a year later, Pace saved the team $3.6 million against the cap. He played in just three games with the Bears in 2017 after being placed on injured reserve with a broken arm.
Mostly a journeyman, Demps has played for five teams including the Bears. He is 32 years old. To be quite honest, I didn’t really understand the signing to begin with last spring. Did he play up to snuff in those three games last season? Sure, he did just fine.
He probably would have never given his job up to Adrian Amos had it not been for the injury, but I have to say I am happy with the outcome overall. Amos took his job back and played great football, making this decision fairly easy.