GM Ryan Pace seems optimistic about where the Chicago Bears stand with their NFL draft plans. While they don't have a 1st round pick, they don have eight picks overall. This includes two in the 2nd round and the remaining six coming on Day 3. An area of the draft Pace has typically excelled. That said, one would imagine the team might love an opportunity to secure another pick if possible.
One way teams have begun to find ways to do this is via an NBA-style trade. This involves taking a somewhat pricey player off the hands of another team with a pick thrown in as incentive. They call this a Brock Osweiler trade after the Cleveland Browns took the quarterback of the Houston Texans' hands for a 2nd round selection.
The Bears don't have nearly the amount of cap space Cleveland did, sitting at around $26 million. However, the lure of getting perhaps a third 2nd rounder might be too appealing to pass up. So who is the name that is getting this kind of buzz? According to Cecil Lammey of 104.3 The Fan, there is serious smoke surrounding Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson.
Chicago Bears can take Johnson in if they want
The Cardinals really want Drake back but the running back isn't going to give them a discount. He's seeking a big payday in free agency. Johnson's cap hit for 2020 will be just over $14.1 million. It is a lot to be sure. The only way to escape it for Arizona is to trade him, which would net over $8 million. Chicago would see most of their space fade away with this move.
That is unless they make one notable sacrifice.
According to Adam Jahns of The Athletic, the Bears are pondering the status of linebacker Leonard Floyd. While they do value him for his coverage and run defense, his pass rush shortcomings are hard to ignore. They aren't happy with his current cap hit either.
"The Bears are at a unique crossroads with the Floyd. They like him as a player but they don’t love him at $13.2 million, the cost of his fifth-year option. It becomes fully guaranteed on March 18. In an ideal world, an extension lowers that amount. But for how many more years and for how much more money?"
If the Bears were to cut or trade Floyd, they would secure that $13.222 million in cap space, all but offsetting Johnson's deal. This would give them around $25 million to conduct business resigning certain players and maybe making a few moves in free agency. Then they would have three 2nd round picks to attack key needs on the roster.
Not a bad idea.
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