Breaking down contract statuses at every position for Bears’ 2021 offseason
The Chicago Bears concluded their 2020 season at 8-9, which included a wild-card playoff loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Now, the attention turns to the offseason, where general manager Ryan Pace will have plenty of work to do and not a whole lot of cap space to do it with — at least at the moment. The Bears are roughly $185,755 over the salary cap, which factors in the likely salary cap decrease following a COVID-19 season.
With the offseason in full swing, we decided to take a look at the current contract status at every position.
For note: Those listed that still have time left on their contracts could be released or traded during the offseason, and some could sign extensions.
This list also includes players entering free agency and those on injured reserve, although not the practice squad.
Here’s a key:
UFA – Unrestricted free agent
RFA – Restricted free agent
ERFA – Exclusive Rights Free Agent
CO – Club option
Ages are as of Sept. 1, 2021
*Cap numbers courtesy of Spotrac
Quarterbacks
AP Photo/Wade Payne
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap Hit | |
2 | 32 | $6.66 million | |
UFA | 27 | n/a | |
Tyler Bray | UFA | 29 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $6.666M
Running backs
AP Photo/Jose Juarez
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
3 | 26 | $3.25M | |
2 | 24 | $1.11M | |
Artavis Pierce | 1 | 25 | $780K |
ERFA | 25 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $5.141M
Wide receivers
Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
Allen Robinson | UFA | 28 | n/a |
3 | 23 | $850K | |
UFA | 30 | n/a | |
1 | 25 | $1.46M | |
2 | 25 | $943K | |
3 | 24 | $1.02M |
Total cap hit: $4.518M
Tight ends
James Gilbert/Getty Images
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
1 | 34 | $10M | |
3 | 22 | $1.72M | |
UFA | 30 | n/a | |
J.P. Holtz | ERFA | 28 | n/a |
1 | 27 | $660K |
Total cap hit: $12.382M
Offensive line
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
4 | 29 | $9.6M | |
Charles Leno Jr. | 1 | 29 | $11.294M |
2 | 32 | $9.3M | |
1 | 23 | $2.211M | |
Sam Mustipher | 1 | 25 | $780K |
ERFA | 25 | n/a | |
UFA | 27 | n/a | |
UFA | 26 | n/a | |
3 | 25 | $804K | |
1 | 24 | $780K | |
UFA | 27 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $34.77M
Defensive line
AP Photo/Wade Payne
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
1 | 31 | $12M | |
Eddie Goldman | 2 | 27 | $7.8M |
1 | 24 | $994K | |
UFA | 28 | n/a | |
UFA | 30 | n/a | |
Mario Edwards | UFA | 28 | n/a |
John Jenkins | UFA | 32 | n/a |
UFA | 29 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $20.79M
Linebackers
AP Photo/Brett Duke
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
4 | 30 | $26.64M | |
4 | 31 | $14.7M | |
1 | 24 | $6.049M | |
2 | 31 | $5.025M | |
UFA | 30 | n/a | |
3 | 24 | $861K | |
James Vaughters | ERFA | 28 | n/a |
Joel Iyiegbuniwe | 1 | 25 | $1.089M |
Josh Woods | ERFA | 25 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $54.371M
Cornerbacks
Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
Kyle Fuller | 1 | 29 | $20M |
Jaylon Johnson | 3 | 22 | $1.47M |
Buster Skrine | 1 | 32 | $6.1M |
Duke Shelley | 2 | 24 | $881K |
Kindle Vildor | 3 | 23 | $857K |
Tre Roberson | 1 | 28 | $722K |
Artie Burns | UFA | 26 | n/a |
Michael Joseph | ERFA | 26 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $30.032M
Safeties
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
Eddie Jackson | 4 | 27 | $11.45M |
Tashaun Gipson | UFA | 31 | n/a |
Deon Bush | UFA | 28 | n/a |
DeAndre Houston-Carson | UFA | 28 | n/a |
Sherrick McManis | UFA | 33 | n/a |
Jordan Lucas | 1 | 28 | $940K |
Total cap hit: $12.39M
Special teams
Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports
Years left | Age | 2021 Cap hit | |
Cairo Santos | UFA | 29 | n/a |
Pat O'Donnell | UFA | 30 | n/a |
Eddy Pineiro | RFA | 25 | n/a |
Patrick Scales | UFA | 33 | n/a |
Total cap hit: $0
