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Chicago Bears potential free agency targets Milton Williams, Drew Dalman and Khalil Mack.
The legal tampering period is open, and NFL free agency has (somewhat unofficially) begun.
It’s another pivotal period for the Chicago Bears — one that general manager Ryan Poles needs to nail.
The good news for Poles? Chicago has the cap space to be a major player in free agency and received a healthy headstart last week when it acquired offensive guards Jonah Jackson from the Rams and Joe Thuney from the Chiefs.
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The deals immediately plug two gaping holes on the offensive line, but it’s not set in stone which holes. Why? Jackson, primarily a left guard, has experience at both guard spots and center, while Thuney can play just about anywhere on the line.
On paper, the Bears still need a starting center. Theoretically, Chicago could decide to slot in Jackson at center and sign (or draft) another lineman to play guard. Regardless, the Bears’ offensive line overhaul is nearly complete.
Where does that leave Chicago’s priorities in free agency? Ideally, Chicago can figure out how to add a solid center, a complementary pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat, and possibly a quality depth receiver. I don’t think too many would complain about adding a proper 3 technique defensive tackle, either.
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F.A.Qs
What is the legal tampering period?
The new league year doesn’t begin until 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12. Technically, free agency does not begin until the league year begins. Between Monday, March 10 at 11 a.m. and Wednesday at 3 p.m. is what the NFL refers to as the ‘legal tampering period,’ which allows teams to negotiate deals with player representatives. Teams cannot contact free agents directly, and free agents cannot visit team facilities during this period.
What is effective cap space?
Effective cap space is the portion of the team’s cap space the team can use on free agents and in trades. With rosters in flux and expanded to 90, from the start of the league year until Week 1 of the regular season, only the 51 most expensive contracts count against the team’s salary cap. Effective cap space subtracts the top-51 figure, the projected money required to sign the team’s upcoming draft class, and other variables like “dead money” from the league’s base salary cap.
The league’s base salary cap for 2025 is $279,200,000.
Per Over The Cap (my personal preference for salary cap calculation websites), the Bears have $40,094,668 in effective cap space*. Ryan Poles could opt to restructure some of the contracts already on the books to open up more space. Converting base salary into signing bonuses would allow money to become prorated over time, creating more dead cap in the future but freeing up space in the present.
* as of Mar. 9, 3 p.m.
What is “dead Money”?
Dead money is a charge on a team’s salary cap for a player who is no longer on the roster. If a player has some sort of signing bonus proration and is traded before that bonus is paid out, or if a player has guaranteed money left on his contract and is released, that money is referred to as “dead” on the cap. It still exists against the cap.
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For example, if the Bears were to inexplicably cut Montez Sweat when the league year opens, Chicago would have a $33,155,883 chunk of dead money against the cap in 2025 to account for Sweat’s contractual guarantee and the remainder of his prorated bonus.
Chicago’s $4,051,895 of dead money against the 2025 cap is the fourth-lowest amount in the NFL.
TRANSACTION TRACKER
Beginning at 11 a.m. on Monday, March 10, reported deals involving the Bears, possible targets, and players who spent time in Chicago last season will be updated below.
LAST UPDATED:
REPORTED SIGNINGS | HEADED ELSEWHERE | 2024 BEARS
REPORTED SIGNINGS
Effective Cap Space: $40,094,668
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TARGETS HEADED ELSEWHERE
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2024 BEARS UPDATES
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POTENTIAL TARGETS
OFFENSIVE LINE
Drew Dalman, C, 26
Robert Hainsey, C, 26
Ryan Kelly, C, 31
Coleman Shelton, C, 29
Kevin Zeitler, G, 35
DEFENSIVE LINE
Jonathan Allen, DT, 30
Joey Bosa, EDGE, 29
Poona Ford, DT, 29
Khalil Mack, EDGE, 34
Dayo Odeyingbo, EDGE, 25
Za’Darius Smith, EDGE, 32
Josh Sweat, EDGE, 27
Milton Williams, DT, 25
WIDE RECEIVER
Chris Godwin, 29
Tim Patrick, 31
Josh Reynolds, 30
Steven Sims Jr., 27
Robert Woods, 32
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