Chicago Bears Rumors: 3 reasons to trade for David Njoku

3. Contract situations

The Bears have plenty of incentive to execute a trade like this, and it boils down to money at the heart of it. This offseason, Jimmy Graham signed for two years and $16 million, with $9 million guaranteed at signing.

Graham’s salary for 2020 will be $3 million and he’ll count $6 million against the cap in total. Next year, though, the Bears have a potential out. They could cut ties with Graham and it would result in $3 million in dead cap, with a savings of $7 million.

With Kmet on his rookie deal for a few more years, the Bears could afford to eventually extend Njoku if they chose to do so. Njoku’s contract runs through the 2021 season. So, for at least two years, the Bears would have two young tight ends on their rookie deals.

Should Njoku produce in his first season with the Bears, it would make sense to then talk about an extension, which of course Ryan Pace could navigate his way through with a bit of craftiness as usual.

Chicago’s offense has been the main problem for a couple of years now, and extending someone like Allen Robinson is going to be important. But, extending someone like Njoku would be a top priority as well. He could change the face of this offense by himself, and the Bears would be wise to pay up.

Next season, you could be looking at a relatively cheap tandem of Njoku and Kmet — two guys who might drastically alter the state of this offense going forward.