Kyler Gordon
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 26: Kyler Gordon #6 of the Chicago Bears celebrates after recovering a fumble against the Seattle Seahawks during the third quarter at Soldier Field on December 26, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears, as of March 18th, are dead last in the NFL in cap space with $213,000, and restructuring cornerback Kyler Gordon’s contract could be the likely solution to freeing up some cap space.
Gordon, the first player Bears general manager Ryan Poles drafted in 2022, signed a three-year, $40 million extension last offseason after impressing during his first three seasons in Chicago.
“Kyler Gordon, I think, is an outstanding nickel player,” defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said before the start of the 2025 season. “I have a vision for how we can utilize him. I think the foundation for what we want to do is there, and then I’m just excited about finally getting these guys in here and us having the opportunity to work with him and see exactly what we have.”
Unfortunately, Gordon appeared in just three regular-season games during 2025 due to a lingering hamstring injury.
Now, according to Bears insider Brad Biggs, Gordon tops the list of players who could see their contract being restructured this offseason.
Bears Should Pull Off $6M Move Restructuring Kyler Gordon’s Contract
Biggs was asked if the Bears should restructure any current players’ contracts to make more cap space, and he said it’s something that “will happen at some point,” with Gordon topping the list of players who could see their contracts restructured.
“That will happen at some point. It’s a matter of who, when and for how much. One thing the Bears could do is create space as needed as the offseason unfolds. They don’t want to wind up pushing cap space into 2027 and 2028 that they don’t need this year.
The top candidate for a simple restructuring is probably nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon, who signed an extension last offseason. Restructuring Gordon’s contract could create about $6 million in cap space. The Bears will need to make space to add their draft class and also will require operating space for general moves during the season. Of course, any big move at this point also would require some numbers to be moved around.”
After a disappointing 2025 campaign, it’ll make sense for the Bears to restructure Gordon’s contract, and Gordon will likely be ok with the move as well. Straight-up releasing him won’t be ideal, as Gordon is one of the Bears’ best players when he’s playing fully healthy. The hope is that’s the version the Bears see on the field next season.
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This defense is flat out DIFFERENT when Kyler Gordon is on the field, his presence changes the structure of the unit, and the impact is immediate. Everything clicks into place.
I want him to be a Chicago Bear forever, but his long term future feels uncertain given the injury
Gordon Comments on Injury Struggles During the Regular Season
It wasn’t exactly how Gordon envisioned his 2025 season would go after signing an extension that made him the highest-paid nickel CB at the time.
“Definitely there was some tough times,” Gordon said. “To be able to go through something like that as an athlete, a lot of people don’t understand what that’s like. Even myself, not being through (a lengthy injury) ever before. (I was) just being positive and letting God control the way.”
He now has the time to make a full recovery and prove that last season was just a minor bump in the road. But for now, the Bears could benefit from restructuring his contract and adding $6 million in available cap space.