Sounds Like Cairo Santos Should Be Getting Nervous

GM Ryan Poles made his intentions clear last off-season for the Chicago Bears. Everybody not acquired by him was not considered a lock to stay on the roster long-term. If they wanted to change that, they would have to prove it on the field. Some have. Justin Fields is one. Cole Kmet, Jaylon Johnson, Darnell Mooney, and Teven Jenkins are others. Outside of that, pretty much everybody else can't be called safe going into this off-season. One name people aren't talking about is Cairo Santos.

The Bears aren't pressed for money, so releasing the veteran kicker would be more about how Poles sees his value. Santos was outstanding in 2021, missing only three kicks all year. Unfortunately, he took a step back somewhat in 2022. While he still went a respectable 21-of-23 on field goal attempts, he was five of his 32 extra points. Those ended up costing the Bears in several of those tight games they played. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus believes if they identify a possible younger, cheaper alternative, they will take it.

Especially if the guy has a strong leg.

"CHICAGO BEARS: K CAIRO SANTOS

Salary Cap Details: $1,500,000 dead money, $3,000,000 cap savings

A team is never going to pay a player more than their on-field production warrants, no matter their financial standing, but the Bears are devoid of talent and have a ton of cash/cap at their disposal — which, in theory, could protect some of the cheaper veterans on the roster.

That said, veteran kicker Cairo Santos missed five extra points and two field goals in 2022, earning him a 48.5 kicking grade that ranked dead last among 34 kickers with at least 10 attempts. Furthermore, while Santos has been quite accurate and consistent as a Bear, his range at this point is effectively 53 or so yards, with a handful of kickers across the NFL hitting from 10 yards beyond that. The Bears might as well get a jump start on looking into long-term, younger solutions at kicker for 2023."

Cairo Santos will likely survive for one reason.

The alternatives don't appear strong this year. The free agent class is filled with notable names like Robbie Gould and Matt Prater, but both are in or nearing their 40s. A more likely avenue would be the draft for the Bears. Poles already proved last year he isn't afraid to pick specialists. Punter Trenton Gill went in the 7th round. If the GM sees a kicker he likes, he'll take him. One name worth watching is Harrison Mevis of Missouri. He had a respectable 84.9% accuracy rate on field goals in college and is reported to have a leg capable of hitting 55 yards and beyond.

Smart money says the Bears will give Cairo Santos another year. He has one left on his contract. If he plays well, they can always extend him. If not, they can let him walk as a free agent in 2024 without any dead money to worry about. As frustrating as his misfires were last year, he was still mostly reliable. Everybody saw what happened to Gould once he went through a slump. The Bears cut him, and he ended up having a brilliant run in San Francisco. Sometimes it is okay to see if a good kicker can work his way out of struggles.