Chicago Bears: Potential cap casualties in 2020 offseason
By Usayd Koshul
6. Mike Davis
With the way the Bears structured Mike Davis’ contract, it’s clear that the team is confident that David Montgomery will be a full-time starter by 2020. Next offseason, when the Bears are in the process of clearing up cap space, Davis would save the team $3 million dollars.
While that doesn’t seem like a lot of money, the Bears brought Davis in as a short-term solution while the team was figuring out it’s running back problem. Now look, could Davis end up being in a Bears uniform until the end of the 2020 season when his contract is up? Yes. But financially speaking, it doesn’t make sense for the Bears.
Why decide to keep an older veteran in Davis around when you’ve got a younger, more complete running back in David Montgomery? Additionally, the Bers also have a potential hidden gem in seventh-round pick Kerrith Whyte, who has speed and features the ability to be a dangerous weapon in the passing game.
The reality is that Davis may not be the most flashy running back on the field, but he does just enough to get the job done. He isn’t necessarily a workhorse by any means, but he does fit what the Bears are trying to do in the running game very well.
Typically in the NFL, many running backs don’t last past the age of 30. While Davis is just 26 years old, he’s on his third NFL team as he heads into his sixth NFL season. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it does show that teams view him more as a rotational piece.