Everybody is so excited for free agency and the draft. It's hard to blame Chicago Bears fans. Their team has the most cap space in the NFL. It has the #1 overall pick. The amount of power they hold exceeds that of any other team. It is a premium opportunity for GM Ryan Poles to remake the roster into something special. However, before he does any of that, he has decisions to make regarding players already on the roster. One of the most prominent is running back David Montgomery.
Poles has already said he is a big fan of the 26-year-old, believing he represents everything this new regime desires in a player. He works hard, plays harder, does everything asked of him, and is a terrific locker room presence. Montgomery eclipsed 1,000 total yards for the fourth consecutive season. Nobody would say he's a star, but he was an integral part of the Bears' league-leading rushing attack. Retaining him might not be a bad idea. It comes down to what kind of money it would cost. Cap specialist Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus provided an answer with this contract projection.
RB DAVID MONTGOMERY, CHICAGO BEARS
Contract Projection: Three years, $19.5 million ($6.5M per year); $12.25 million total guaranteed
David Montgomery would be worth that price.
If the numbers worked out that way, it'd make him the 12th-highest-paid running back in the NFL between Leonard Fournette ($7 million per year) and Nyheim Hines ($6.2 million). It would also only be a three-year deal, so the Bears could get out of it rather quickly if Montgomery starts regressing as many running backs do when approaching their 30th birthday. That kind of money is not overpaying for a guy that can give you 1,000 total yards and 6-7 touchdowns every year. It would also be a significant morale boost for a locker room that loves him.
The Bears have more than enough money to afford such a contract. It doesn't weigh them down with anything significant. David Montgomery is good enough and young enough to play good football for another three years. He gets decent money, and the Bears get protection against future injuries. It comes down to how much he wants to stay and how much money he seeks. Montgomery may have a solid market waiting for him, with several other top free agents like Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs, and Tony Pollard looking at the franchise tag. Then again, it's hard to see any team valuing him more than the Bears.
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