Sometimes a proper rebuild requires some creativity to give your teams some added flexibility. One of the most novel methods the NFL has ever seen came in 2017. The Houston Texans were in a salary cap nightmare and deeply regretted the contract they'd handed quarterback Brock Osweiler in free agency. Rather than wait the deal out until they could cut him, the team decided to confront the problem more directly. They packaged the QB with a 6th round pick and a future 2nd round pick and sent him to the Cleveland Browns for a compensatory 4th round pick.
Cleveland had tons of cap space available. They could absorb Osweiler's contract. Essentially the Texans had paid them with draft picks to get the deal off their books. It worked out great for the Browns. That 2nd round pick they got in the trade became star running back Nick Chubb. Now the Chicago Bears find themselves in a similar position. They have way more cap space than any team in the league. Meanwhile, several teams are deep in the red, desperate for ways to get some ugly contracts off their payrolls.
It isn't crazy to think one of them could call Chicago about taking such a contract on in exchange for draft compensation. In fact, there is one name that comes to mind.
Taysom Hill fits that Brock Osweiler profile.
It was a wild day when news broke New Orleans had signed the backup QB and all-around offensive weapon to a four-year extension worth up to $140 million. There was some sense to it. Hill was a difference-maker in Sean Payton's offense. Keeping him around wasn't a hard decision. Things have changed. Payton is gone. The team is $35 million over the salary cap. Hill is 33 years old and not the solution at quarterback they desperately need. Unloading that contract, which still has three years left on it, makes sense.
The problem is obvious. Nobody would dare touch it. The only way that changes is if the Saints offered some incentive in draft compensation like Houston did with Brock Osweiler. Only the Bears stand out as a possible landing spot. Hill's $13.925 cap hit wouldn't hurt their off-season plans too much. Trading for him would result in two possibilities. They could keep him as a backup to Justin Fields. His athleticism and versatility might fit well in this system. Or the Bears could cut him with a post-June 1st designation. While it wouldn't bring any cap space, it would mean the contract is off their books by next year, and they'd have another draft pick in their pockets.
Something to remember as the start of the new league year approaches on March 15th.
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