The COVID-19 virus has had a ripple effect across the sports world that hasn't been seen in many decades. If ever. Since teams have become wary of the medical issues this can present, they've been trying to insert language into contracts that would permit them to void deals signed by players as protection for the team. Several players have been unwilling to go along with this. As a result, an unusually high number of deals made have fallen through. Something the Chicago Bears are in prime position to take advantage of.
The most recent name to join that list is Eli Apple. The 26-year old cornerback thought he had a deal worked out to join the Las Vegas Raiders. However, things fell apart. He makes for the second cornerback that this has happened to in the past week. Darqueze Dennard, formerly of the Cincinnati Bengals, had planned to join the Jacksonville Jaguars. That didn't work out either.
Just like that the cornerback market looks considerably richer. Considering it's over two weeks into free agency, that is significant. The longer the market goes, the more likely the prices of guys will start dropping. Players taking one-year deals in hoping of playing well so they can get a bigger payday in 2021.
Chicago Bears still have time to score a bargain
The cornerback market still has a number of intriguing vets floating out there without contracts. While the Bears are light on spending money after trading for Nick Foles and giving strong deals to Jimmy Graham and Robert Quinn, they should be able to clear up just enough space for one more move if needed. Given their lack of clarity at corner behind Kyle Fuller, this would be the position to watch. Especially given some of the names out there.
- Eli Apple
- Darqueze Dennard
- Logan Ryan
- Ross Cockrell
- Bashaud Breeland
Any one of those guys could be instant starters in the secondary. That is unless Kevin Toliver or Tre Roberson are actually much better than people realize. Given the pressing need to win in 2020 though, that might not be a gamble the Bears wish to take. They could sell a Ryan or an Apple on a one-year deal playing behind a front that features Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Robert Quinn.
If ever there was an opportunity to fill up that stat sheet, it's in Chicago.
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