Chicago Bears: Way-too-early 2020 offseason preview

1. Contract extensions for core players

One of the first steps towards sustaining a winning team in the NFL is ensuring that a team can lock it’s core players up. Right now, for the Bears, there are four names that come to mind that are in line for potential extensions: Eddie Jackson, Leonard Floyd, Tarik Cohen, and Mitchell Trubisky.

If the Bears were to prioritize extending each of the names listed above, it would likely be in the following order: Trubisky, Jackson, Cohen, and Floyd. However, in terms of financials, the most expensive contracts will likely go to Trubisky, Floyd, Jackson, and then Cohen.

Typically in the NFL, teams begin to think about extending players after their third full season has been completed. After the 2019 season, Trubisky, Jackson, and Cohen will have completed their third seasons in the NFL. It is, however, entirely possible that next offseason the Bears opt to extend Cohen and Jackson and wait until 2021 to extend Trubisky.

Floyd’s situation is the most interesting out of any players on this list. He is heading into his fourth-year and the Bears picked up his fifth-year option, which means he’ll be with the team until at least the conclusion of the 2020 season.

Retaining core players will be the Bears biggest priority next offseason. There are veterans on the roster right now that could be cut and save the Bears tons of money to ensure that younger, more impactful players can remain with the team.