The Chicago Bears know they can't afford to sit back and do little as they did in 2019 regarding offseason work. They were coming off a winning season and looked like a Super Bowl contender then. Not so this time. They instead looked like a major disappointment who wasn't as good as they thought they were. The NFL, as always, has a way of humbling those who don't strive to get better every year. So GM Ryan Pace must make sure that it doesn't happen again in 2020.
Not if he wants to keep his job.
The obvious question moving forward is what will the Bears do? They don't have a lot of resources to throw at their problems. Their salary cap will be tight barring some significant moves and they have no 1st round pick in the draft. So it will take some creativity to find upgrades for this team. One thing Pace might try is to hunt the veteran market for cap casualties. Players who were deemed too expensive to keep.
While there is a risk in doing something like that, the reasons the player is cut aren't always due to ability. Such might end up being the case for A.J. Bouye.
Chicago Bears would love what Bouye can still bring
It's no secret the Bears might be preparing to move on from Prince Amukamara. Age and injuries appear to be taking their toll on the starting cornerback and his contract is becoming more trouble than its worth. At the same time, his exit would leave the defense in a difficult spot with nobody on the roster seeming ready to replace him. Kevin Toliver hasn't really stood out whenever he's gotten opportunities and Duke Shelley is a different type of player.
Hence why it's possible someone like Bouye would make sense. There is a belief the 28-year old might be released next year due to the Jacksonville Jaguars having loads of cap problems. Cutting Bouye would net them $11.5 million.
Demetrius Harvey of SB Nation believes such a move has serious legs.
"After jettisoning All Pro cornerback Jalen Ramsey, the Jaguars called on Bouye to become their number one cornerback, typically covering the opposing team’s best receiver — Bouye follow Texans receiver DeAndre Hopkins allowing only eight receptions for 48 yards and a touchdown in their most recent contest.
While Bouye has not been a bad defensive back for the Jaguars, he has not played as well as he did in 2017 and the team can save $11.5M if they were to move on. A new regime — if there is one —, will have to quickly evaluate the position and reload it if they decide to move on."
Bouye is a tough and athletic corner who does his best work in man coverage. The type of defense the Bears play under Chuck Pagano demands these types of players. Pagano is familiar with him from his days as head coach in Indianapolis. Bouye was a rising star for the Houston Texans back then.
Then there is the reality that the Bears actually wanted the cornerback back in 2017. They offered more money to him than Jacksonville did. However, being able to play closer to his hometown and within the same division proved too appealing. Pace might get a second chance. Bouye didn't have his best year in 2019, allowing a 100.8 passer rating. To be fair though, he did this against the best every opponent had to offer, which isn't terrible.
If his price isn't too steep, he and Kyle Fuller could make for a highly effective pairing in 2020.
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