The Chicago Bears had a tough decision to make ahead of free agency regarding their inside linebacker position. It appears they've made it. Defensive leader Danny Trevathan is set to return on a three-year deal via Ian Rapoport of NFL Network. This all but guarantees that backup-turned-starter Nick Kwiatkoski will hit the open market and find himself on a new team when free agency begins next week.
It's a tough decision for the Bears. Keeping Kwiatkoski, who is younger at 26-years old would've been preferable but also expensive. Word is his market is heating up fast. GM Ryan Pace has other priorities to think about on his roster, especially on offense. He can't afford to pay everybody. Trevathan is still a good player and should return at a cheaper price than Kwiatkoski would've cost.
This should buy the Bears time to find another potential heir to that spot down the line. A tough business decision.
Danny Trevathan still has gas left in the tank
The thing is this isn't a purely financial move. Trevathan can still play. He was having another good season in 2019. Through the first eight games, he had 67 tackles, a forced fumble, and a sack. It was a freak injury to his elbow that ended his year. That shouldn't have any long-term effects on his ability to move around the field making plays on the football. He turns 30-years old on the 24th this month. While not on the younger side anymore, plenty of linebackers have played well into their mid-30s.
If nothing else, this buys GM Ryan Pace time to think about inside linebacker at a later date. While losing Kwiatkoski is tough, it's fair to remember Pace is the one who drafted him back in 2016. That was in the 4th round. It gives one confidence that he should be able to do it again.
