Chicago Bears Free Agency: Assessing 3 inside linebacker options
By Ryan Heckman
This spring, the Chicago Bears have some options at inside linebacker with three of their own entering free agency. Which should they bring back?
It is one of the more interesting positions for the Chicago Bears in reference to the upcoming free agency period. Inside linebacker could go one of several ways for general manager Ryan Pace, but there are several factors in play.
Of course, everyone is talking about the cap situation. The Bears have a projected $4.9 million in cap space according to Over The Cap, but that is going to change.
The Bears can save a good chunk of money this offseason by cutting a few notable players. For example, if they let go of Leonard Floyd, the Bears save a whopping $13.2 million. This, in turn, creates another enormous need for the team at outside linebacker.
Like Floyd’s situation, the Bears could also opt to release Taylor Gabriel and Prince Amukamara to save a combined $15.5 million, per Spotrac.
If Pace elects to release all three of them, that would give them approximately $33 million to work with going forward — which, still, isn’t much.
One thing is for certain: The inside linebacker position needs to be solidified. Pace has options in-house, which I think most fans would like to see. Instead of going the route of free agency or the draft, the Bears would be wise to bring one of their own back.
But, which one? Will it be the trusted veteran, Danny Trevathan? How about four-year backup Nick Kwiatkoski? Pace could also look to journeyman Kevin Pierre-Louis. Let’s look at all three options for the Bears, and what they bring to the table.