One of the challenges facing the Chicago Bears and the rest of the NFL in 2021 is the salary cap, which will drop following financial losses due to COVID-19.
The NFL and NFLPA have previously negotiated a $ 175 million salary cap. But the two sides reached an agreement to raise the word to 180 million dollars, which gives the teams less space. Although it is not the final amount – ESPN estimates it could reach $ 185 million – which will probably be announced in March, it gives teams an idea of what the salary cap will look like.
But what does that mean for the Chicago Bears in 2021?
If the wage cap is maintained, the bears will be $ 2.5 million above the cap in 2021, according to Over The Cap. This means that general manager Ryan Pace will have to make some decisions regarding restructuring agreements and reducing players in order to free up ceiling space.
“We need to be aware,” Pace said of the January salary cap situation. “Obviously, as you know every year, there are ways to create space for the lid and all these are important decisions that we have to make.
“It starts with that, evaluating our own list and talking (over) some of these things. This is true.”
Potential casualties include Jimmy Graham ($ 7 million), right-back Bobby Massie ($ 5.4 million), left-back Charles Leno ($ 6.2 million), defender Buster Skrine ($ 2.7 million) and receiver Anthony Miller ($ 1.2 million)
Given that the Bears have about 30 free agents this season, Pace is working, especially since some of these free agents should be a priority, including receivers Allen Robinson and Cordarrelle Patterson, as well as kicker Cairo Santos.