Chicago Bears: 3 mistakes Pace must avoid as free agency begins

Can’t stick with Floyd’s option

Immediately following the close of the 2018 season, Ryan Pace was quick to publicly state that the team was going to pick up Leonard Floyd’s fifth-year option, which will cost the team $13.2 million this season.

That is a hefty price for someone who has a grand total of 18.5 sacks in four seasons. That is paltry production for someone drafted in the top 10 and who has expected to be a constant threat to not only get pressure on the quarterback but to get home and rack up sacks.

While it’s nice that Floyd “does other things to help the team win,” and is above average when dropping in coverage, there is no way the team can justify paying an edge rusher $13.2 million to drop in coverage. No doubt, if the Bears are giving up that kind of money, they are expecting him to disrupt the quarterback on a consistent basis.

Now, just because I don’t think they can or should pay him that much, doesn’t necessarily mean I think they should rescind the option and outright release him. Doing so would only create another hole to fill with limited quality options in free agency and few draft picks. However, they could certainly look to extend Floyd and make his salary cap hit considerably less next year while paying him money more commensurate with his production.