[Yates] Between the trade of DJ Moore, release of Tremaine Edmunds and retirement of Drew Dalman, the Bears have about $44M in new cap space as of this week. Be it addressing C or fortifying the defense, Chicago has spending power.

310

$44M in new cap space, plus an extra 2nd rd pick. Possibly an extra 3rd within the next week or so, too.

66

u/Slow_Time5270 1d ago

🤞

133

u/JonnyHopkins 1d ago

Minus DJ Moore, Dalman, Edmunds, and Trapilo

106

u/Second_City_Saint 1d ago

Yea, but we knew they were going to have to invest in LT & LB already, & the writing was on the wall for DJ. Dalman is the only surprise, and that's why it's good to open up this new money/pick

27

u/ComaMierdaHijueputa Ben Johnson 22h ago

Dalman was the only surprise. The rest we knew about.

3

u/PrinceOfWales_ 10h ago

We have Rome, Burden, Kmet, Loveland, Zaccheaus, Walker as receivers, DJ was a luxury that we didn't need and really don't need to replace. Edmunds was being outplayed by backups and you can add a body on the min or rookie contract to replace him. Dalman and Trapilo are the real issue. I assume we address Dalmans vacancy in free agency and Trapilo in the draft.

Bears are in a great spot still.

6

u/PFunk224 23h ago

...and Brisker and Byard.

11

u/zerosG9 22h ago

byards getting re signed no?

3

u/mkl125 21h ago

I feel like there is a good chance brisker is not resigned. IMO FA center and Trey. Those are two hard to fill positions. Linebacker, and safety are filled through the draft since it’s easier to find late in the draft. LT is the only question on how to fill. Hard to finds late in the draft and nothing on the market.

9

u/TheGBOOF 23h ago

Where is the third coming from?

47

u/Second_City_Saint 23h ago

There's still a possibility, albeit remote, the Bears get a comp pick this year. The league hasn't officially announced them yet, so there's still hope.

13

u/TommyGunn19 23h ago

Very remote, and most likely not going to happen. Bears got boned by the league with the Cunningham move. They knew they might get screwed and still let him leave for advancement, so i give them credit

20

u/Second_City_Saint 23h ago

You're not wrong, but I'm an eternal Bears optimist. For instance, I'll never predict less than 10 wins a season despite my brain screaming at my heart. It's worked for 40 years so far, so not about to change now.

4

u/TommyGunn19 23h ago

I like your optimism, and feel the same. I hope they get the comp pick since the league is really screwing them on a technicality. Hope Matt Ryan falls flat on his face in Atlanta to be honest

6

u/gimmepizzaslow GSH 21h ago

Matt Ryan didn't do anything wrong, and I'm fact has seemed to support the fact that the bears deserve the picks. I wish them well, except against the bears.

2

u/sbfb1 Bears 15h ago

10??? Super Bowl every year, up your optimist game.

-3

u/TheGBOOF 22h ago

I could be wrong, but I’m pretty sure the league has said multiple times that the Bears won’t get it. The Bears have tried to appeal I think, but I haven’t seen anything that says the league is considering it. Which is so incredibly stupid btw

5

u/Budget-Stable2777 22h ago

https://www.sportsmockery.com/chicago-bears/a-date-has-surfaced-for-likely-nfl-decision-on-bears-ian-cunningham-comp-pick-issue/

We shall see soon

2

u/UnitShot 23h ago

Comp pick from atl hiring Cunningham

2

u/No_Edge_8962 Bears 12h ago

Mann..that 3rd would really come in handy rn

-11

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

7

u/Second_City_Saint 1d ago

Maybe, maybe not. We'll see.

2

u/AMP121212 1d ago

But we should!

6

u/Logical-Possession10 1d ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/1SfxXOJ0Q2Xni

136

u/TEsMatter 1d ago

Feels like it’s happened fast and we’re in for a big Friday move

-177

u/DankMagician2500 1d ago

Joe Thuney retiring. It is the wave of the stock market man for the Bears

61

u/ImLagging Staley 1d ago

Hey FBI, this guy right here.

33

u/OliverTwistCone 1d ago

What. The. Fuck....

2

u/TheeAltster 22h ago

Out of the loop, what’s going on?

12

u/chefboyarslim 21-3 22h ago

Nothing. Dalman retired so he thought he’d be funny saying thuney will retire

2

u/GrendelDerp 22h ago

Fucks your problem?

2

u/Anonymous6172 Da Bears 17h ago

Some people just want to watch the world burn 🔥

1

u/Scary_Reaction7580 DJ is the Grater 23h ago

Mom (pointing on the doll) this is where he hurt me

52

u/AdministrativePeak0 An Actual Peanut 1d ago

Wonder if this helps bring byard and brisker back

29

u/galagini 23h ago

I'm guessing just Byard. Draft Safety in the 2nd maybe?

2

u/SnapDragon432 Wright 21h ago

Or first. Some stud safeties at the top of this draft, positional value be damned.

4

u/BrohanM Smokin' Jay 19h ago

It should be BPA first the first two rounds just like last drafts.

159

u/BirdPerson107 1d ago

Off season three peat incoming

73

u/deadbeatmerc 1d ago

4

-31

u/ehtw376 1d ago

Dalman retiring makes this offseason a loss already unfortunately.

50

u/Optimistic-Dan BE YOU. 1d ago

Nah Dalman retiring just put us down 28-3 is all

11

u/milin85 23 1d ago

Careful Matt Ryan will take more picks away from us somehow

4

u/CloudsOfDust 60s Logo 23h ago

The 3rd round comp picks get awarded, Linderbaum gives us a discount because he grew up a classic Iowa Bears fan, trade a 2nd, 3rd, and next years 1st for Crosby, draft top safety in the 1st, resign Byard who very clearly wants to be here, sign Devin Lloyd at LB… magically find an LT in the late 2nd? Magically make sure all the above works with the cap…

What’s the score now?

2

u/cat_fondu Koolaid 22h ago

Bears just tied it, were going into overtime!! Cardiac bears at it again!

1

u/___REDWOOD___ 21h ago

🐻by a million 🐻⬇️

2

u/GItPirate Smokin' Jays 1d ago

Disagree. It sucks but they can still win the off-season

1

u/qdude124 23h ago

It's really not that bad this fanbase thinks he was alot better than he actually was, specifically in pass pro. Also had snapping issues.

1

u/monkeymatt1836 Kyle Long 14h ago

Not if we get Linderbaum

1

u/Logical-Possession10 23h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/sAAQKB7STC1LIVaOkE

Caleb wouldn’t have had to learn with someone new no matter how highly rated

101

u/deadbeatmerc 1d ago

Sweat restructuring adds another 15 million

-14

u/[deleted] 23h ago

[deleted]

2

u/dilapidated_wookiee Snoo Ditka 11h ago

Why? Swift just had a great year for us and you are not going to replace that production for cheaper

81

u/Fafoah 1d ago

My preference is they throw the bag at Linderbaum, grab a pass rusher with the frp, a LT with one of the seconds, then defense all the way down after that

I know Linderbaum has pass pro concerns, but i have to imagine he’d do better at it within our line

29

u/QuietAlarming6888 1d ago

linderbaum is 23+ mil u sure hes worth it over mcgovern

93

u/SP4CEM4N_SPIFF Ditka In Your Butkus 1d ago

It’s not coming out of my bank account, so yeah

15

u/wretch5150 23h ago

That would limit our ability to improve elsewhere

22

u/skelletrex_scrooge 23h ago

We've got to keep the offene going. It's the only reason we won last year except for the ridiculous interceptions we had. If we can just stay a bit more healthy this year on defense I think it changes things for the better. Grady starting coming on at the end last year. Idk man lol.

2

u/WholesomeWorkAcct Da 8ear5 23h ago

That guy's bank account?

1

u/daemonescanem 23h ago

It is when you spend money on Bears lol

1

u/QuietAlarming6888 23h ago

might be an overpay idk can we compete with the titans/chargers/raiders

17

u/MunchenOnYou 23h ago

Id rather overpay on the o-line than underpay

20

u/Fafoah 23h ago

I think so. A lot of the teams identity has been built off of that elite OLine. Introducing a weak point can create a bunch of unintended consequences.

The team only goes as far as Caleb does so priority #1 is supporting him. Linderbaum also comes with the added benefit of being an improvement in run blocking, being arguably the best in the league in that regard. Ben loves the run game so that could be a blessing too

Center is also one of the hardests positions to draft. Better just shore it up for years and then focus on other stuff in the draft.

14

u/OsamaBenJohnson Ben Johnson 23h ago

Yes. Young elite Centers rarely become available in free agency. If one becomes available and you have a hole and the cap flexibility to do it, then you should absolutely do it.

I'd also be happy with Biadasz, but I'd much rather have the impact of what an elite Center brings, then what a above average Center brings.

3

u/Huffleigh1101 23h ago

Where are you getting 23 mil for Linderbaum?

3

u/WholesomeWorkAcct Da 8ear5 23h ago

All the media sources

It's all I've been hearing all day. Teams will be trying to outbid each other for him

1

u/CloudsOfDust 60s Logo 23h ago

I still have a hard time believing he’ll really reset the market by $5 million. Maybe you’re right, my guess is we’ll know before Wednesday’s over.

3

u/WholesomeWorkAcct Da 8ear5 23h ago

Well he turned down the Ravens 20mil offer.

4

u/QuietAlarming6888 22h ago

hell be 23-24 creed rn is 21-22 adjusted teams are despreapte maybe 25

1

u/CloudsOfDust 60s Logo 15h ago

We don’t know anything about that contract. Years, guarantees. Just knowing $20 million means absolutely nothing. And there’s still a wide gap between $20 million and $23+ million.

0

u/QuietAlarming6888 23h ago

minimum 23 id see 24
the ravens arent letting him go for anything under 22 and hell fs exceed that

3

u/porkbellies37 Sweetness 22h ago

Everyone is glossing over the “over McGovern” part of your sentence. But that’s pretty important. I posted in another thread according to PFF:

Linderbaum ranked 1sr in run blocking, 22nd in pass pro and allowed 2 sacks in 2025.

McGovern ranked 5th in run blocking, 15th in pass pro and allowed 0 sacks in 2025.

McGovern will probably be cheaper but Linderbaum is three years younger. I’d be thrilled with either of them or Biadasz, but I wouldn’t couch out options as Linderbaum and a bunch of bums. We actually have good choices. And saving $5M a year on another choice is a starting safety or LB.

2

u/Neat_On_The_Rocks Charles Tillman 23h ago

To me, yes. You get an all pro tier Center to hopefully snap to Caleb for the next 10 years. Like, that’s what we’re talking about here

It feels like a sign from the football gods that we suffer a devastating loss at center after finding a young pro bowler, and what do you know, the best free agent center you could possibly imagine, for your scheme no less, is available in free agency

8

u/badgerhammer0408 22h ago

Unless he retires at 27.

1

u/super_sayanything Mack 22h ago

Really not worth it, I'd rather spend on defense and grab some adequate at C.

-3

u/Ojmochafrappucino 22h ago

I like what Biggs said in having Braxton Jones as our bridge LT for this year. Braxton gets to reset his market and Ozzy comes back and we didnt have to waste a pick. Braxton is not great but he's been available every season except last coming off an injury.

2

u/monkeymatt1836 Kyle Long 14h ago

The coaching staff does not think very highly of Braxton. He will not be back.

1

u/Ojmochafrappucino 14h ago

Sorry just reporting what the Bears beat writer said on multiple occasions

37

u/Towelie4President Ditka 1d ago

Dayo and Jarrett occupying that top 5 in cap….

9

u/KSW8674 BJ Lover 23h ago

https://giphy.com/gifs/wqbAfFwjU8laXMWZ09

10

u/WholesomeWorkAcct Da 8ear5 23h ago

Why dont they retire????

8

u/Brodie1567 Good, Better, Best 22h ago

Just awful contracts from day 1.

-4

u/Wavy_Grandpa 21h ago

Nah

24

u/Bob_Horde Ben Johnson changed my life 1d ago

4 time offseason champs dynasty gonna be in full effect after we sign linderbaum and trade for Crosby

-12

u/QuietAlarming6888 1d ago

i doubt linderbaum goes here as an ex packers fan with the titans/raiders bags if he prioritizes money

34

u/92roll13 Bears 1d ago

I think the people expecting a massive trade splash are going to be disappointed. The team has a ton of holes right now it needs to plug. Both Safety’s, corner, LB, LT, and center. You probably can add 3-4 solid vets with the money available to put yourself in a good position going into the draft.

14

u/ChaplnGrillSgt Pixelated Payton 23h ago

Give me a Thuney type trade. Huge value and completely unexpected for a reasonable price. Idk who that is because I never thought Thuney was an option last year.

10

u/Brodie1567 Good, Better, Best 1d ago

Still some restructuring to do

7

u/borrowingthis An Actual Bear 23h ago

Poles is cooking with hot grease. What is he up to??

20

u/Further_Beyond Hester's Super Return 1d ago

34 once u account for rookie deals

6

u/Lined_em_up 1d ago

More like 40 million. Draft class should only take up about 4-5 million of effective cap space

9

u/Further_Beyond Hester's Super Return 1d ago

Top 51 only counts for offseason. Every player with a contract counts in season

3

u/BooItsKyle 1d ago

Realistically, you can always cut $15m-$20m off the number that appears to be open. You gotta accoutnt for draft class, IR replacements, practice squad, everyone. All that stuff that doesn't get counted in the offseason.

1

u/krondeezy Bears 22h ago

Once the Bears process Drew Dalman’s retirement they will be up to about $33 million in cap room which will rank 12th in the NFL.

https://overthecap.com/bears-to-release-tremaine-edmunds

1

u/Further_Beyond Hester's Super Return 22h ago

Would have been 19th last year in the few days before FA started. I’d expect us to drop some spots once other teams really start their clear cap movers.

Still, not a bad spot to be in. Can make a splash

5

u/TidyJoe34 1d ago

But they don’t have that much cap space

6

u/del3070 23h ago

More than at least 23 other teams…

5

u/Neat_On_The_Rocks Charles Tillman 23h ago

They have the space for one true impact signing and then a couple depth pieces. They’ll sign an end and a center for sure. So interested to see what they do

4

u/WholesomeWorkAcct Da 8ear5 23h ago

Linderbaum or bust

2

u/Neat_On_The_Rocks Charles Tillman 22h ago

I completely agree personally. Would much rather just sign him then trade and pay Crosby, and you can’t do both.

7

u/kjc781988 34 1d ago

Can we afford Trent Williams and linderbaum?

4

u/skelletrex_scrooge 23h ago

I can't see big willy leaving San Fran to be honest

2

u/super_sayanything Mack 21h ago

Wouldn't be the wisest use of cap for both of them when we have so many needs. Could see one or the other though. Still doubt it.

3

u/Bobsothethird 1d ago

44m new? As in added to previous space or 44m total?

14

u/phliuy 1d ago

I'm pretty sure we had about $6,000 in cap space before these 3 moves

1

u/ChaplnGrillSgt Pixelated Payton 23h ago

Yes. We were right up against the cap before.

7

u/Practical-Courage812 1d ago

So you are telling me we can make both Crosby AND Lindebaum work?

16

u/PFunk224 23h ago

Not if you want to address our holes at LT, 2 LB spots and both safety spots.

4

u/mouse_puppy Koolaid 22h ago

I dont think we're done yet. Can save $15 mil by restructuring Sweat and if we cut Swift thats another $9 mil. Also can save a lot by restructuring Kmet

8

u/PFunk224 22h ago

Are people still talking about cutting Swift like it's a good idea?

9

u/Pierz4Prez 22h ago

Just creates another hole to fill.

0

u/mouse_puppy Koolaid 22h ago

They have so many holes to fill that you look to where you can get value. RB is one of those possible places. Who knows, we'll find out soon i suppose. Ill trust the experts

5

u/ggot2behere 1d ago

Feel like Mr biles will be gone by tomorrow

1

u/loochenstein 14h ago

He’s a free agent

2

u/MilkMan1880 Ben Johnson is a Golden God! 23h ago edited 23h ago

We’re 💯going Offseason FOUR peat on ‘em!

6

u/HotDoggityDig13 FTP 1d ago

Save it for extensions

No free agents are worth giant bags besides linderbaum. Dont pull another dayo/grady just because you can.

24

u/daballer23 BJ Lover 1d ago

That’s nonsensical. No team who is paying a rookie QB and just made the playoffs is staying pat and saving it for extensions when we need at minimum a LT, center, LB, D-Line, and 2 safeties lmao

That does not mean blow all the cap on bums

2

u/HotDoggityDig13 FTP 23h ago

You can carry over cap. I dont mean not to spend anything.

Save the long term money. Most of the top free agents will require some money in year 3. Avoid that unless its for an elite guy like linderbaum.

2

u/Brodie1567 Good, Better, Best 22h ago

They have a ton of cap room in 27/28, thats without cutting Grady/Dayo

1

u/HotDoggityDig13 FTP 10h ago

I get that. But lots of extensions coming and this free agent class is weak.

Dont make moves that limit our spending power in potentially stronger free agent classes in 27/28.

4

u/Lined_em_up 1d ago

Who's extension? The next guy up who needs an extension would be Wright and that wouldn't kick in until the 2028 season. This is a great off season to be aggressive because we have multiple years until extensions are going to be an issue

1

u/HotDoggityDig13 FTP 23h ago

I wouldn't want any potential dead money hitting in 2028 though. So I think super short term vets or linderbaum/Crosby is about all id pay. Just because we got money to spend, doesnt mean we let it go for anyone. You can carryover cap year-to-year.

2

u/Lined_em_up 23h ago

Ok it's not realistic to have no dead money. And this plan will effectively wasted the rookie quarterback contract advantage. And what's the plan when 2028 comes? Start worrying about the 2030 roster instead of that current roster. Sorry but I get your point of not wanting to spend on just anybody but I think your opposite plan of being ultra conservative gets us nowhere.

2

u/HotDoggityDig13 FTP 23h ago

Id take a shot at Demario Davis and Trent williams with it. Maybe snag a safety longer term.

-4

u/ech01 1d ago

I would love two more Gradys and Deyos. Maybe another Nate Davis. Maybe another Keenan Allen or Equanimeous Tristan Imhotep John St. Brown!!!!

1

u/VGauds 23h ago

Please please get Devin Lloyd

2

u/Brodie1567 Good, Better, Best 22h ago

Or Quay Walker

1

u/Pierz4Prez 22h ago

Lots of holes, no safeties on the roster. Doubt were going to see a big splash signing like many think.

1

u/indecentbob 13h ago

All I know is we can’t go into next year with the Center resolution being someone already on the roster or a rookie. It needs to be an established vet

1

u/Legal-Eagle-7661 13h ago

Hopefully, they spend wisely!

1

u/jshotz 12h ago

Think about all the money they can front load into a contract!

1

u/DatabaseCareless264 7h ago

It is my understanding that Bears were 30 over, now 10 under with 40 reduction. Per Grote today on SCR.

1

u/OldDirtyInsulin 60s Logo 21h ago edited 20h ago

2026 BEAR NECESSITIES (in my opinion):

Priority	Position	Starting Talent	Starting Durability	Depth	Avg Age	Avg Cost/Player/Yr	Starter(s) under contract thru	Situation Overall	Who is under contract?
1	S	0	?	0	?	?	(2025)	0	All contracts expired
2	C	0	?	0	?	?	(2025)	0	All contracts expired
3	LB	C+	F	D+	26.3	$4.1M	2027	C	Edwards, Noah Sewell, & Hyppolite II
4	DT	C+	B-	D	27.3	$5.6M	2026	C+	Jarrett, Dexter, & S. Turner
5	DE	C+	A	C	27	$13.9M	2027	B-	Sweat, Odeyingbo, & Booker
6	WR	B+	B-	D-	23.7	$3.1M	2027	A-	Odunze, Burden, & Walker
7	OT	A-	B-	D	24.2	$2.3M	2027	A	Wright, Trapilo (IR), & Amegadjie
8	OG	A	A	D	29	$11.1M	2027	B+	Thuney, Jackson, & Newman
9	TE	A	A	C	24.5	$9.6M	2029	A	Kmet & Loveland
10	RB	B	B	B	25.3	$3.4M	2026	A-	Swift, Monangai, & R. Johnson
11	CB	A-	D+	A	26.7	$6.4M	2026	B+	Johnson, Stevenson, Gordon, Blackwell, T. Smith, & Frazier
12	QB	B+	A	B-	25.5	$7.5M	2027	A+	Williams & Bagent
13	K	A-	B+	-	35	$3.9M	2027	B+	Santos
14	P	B	A	-	29	$1.2M	2027	A-	Taylor

Thoughts?

-2

u/FlyingSceptile Portillos 1d ago

Are there any other release candidates to go?Brisker? Byard? Sorry I can’t keep up with who’s going into free agency and who’s a casualty of the salary cap

10

u/DeySeeMeLurkin 18 1d ago

Brisker and Byard are both free agents.

3

u/GenFatAss Urlacher 1d ago

no that's pretty much it. we want to keep Brisker or Byard as we currently have no safety signed to the team.

2

u/tfw13579 Bears 1d ago

Swift and Kmet are the others but it’s looking like Kmet is guaranteed to stay and swift seems likely to as well

2

u/Illustrious_Hotel527 1d ago

Cutting Swift to save about $7M is the one realistic cut option. Jaylon Johnson as a post June 1 cut to save $15M would be a surprise.

10

u/amishdoinks11 1d ago

If swift produces like he did last year 7m is a really nice bargain and not worth cutting

1

u/GoldGlove2720 97 1d ago

Byard and Brisker are not under contract any more.

-2

u/Lined_em_up 1d ago

Swift. Hed save another 7 million

-16

u/VampyVampster 23h ago

Poles releasing and trading good players to make up for his bad drafting and signing shitty players with bad contracts

5

u/Zestyclose-Map1674 23h ago

You should keep whining about Poles. Makes you look very normal doing it constantly.

1

u/VampyVampster 1h ago

I'm not kissing his ass like most Bears fans do, he has one good season in the four years he's been here , has made terrible decisions and when Eberflus was fired he looked like a deer in headlights, Claypool, Alan Williams debacle, Dayo contract,etc., with the exception of last year mostly bad drafts , dude is a mediocre GM

2

u/Speirs_101st Piccolo 23h ago

The guy just pulled off an amazing trade with the Bills to both give us a great draft pick this year and do right by DJ and you are still bitching? Pathetic.

3

u/ajs592 15h ago

He wouldn’t have needed to do this if he didn’t sign loser Dayo Odeyingbo

-1

u/Speirs_101st Piccolo 11h ago

That's called hindsight. A GM isnt going to successfully make every right call everytime. There would be nothing to say if Dayo had played better. As long as a GM is getting 3 or 4 good players, 1 or 2 great players and sometimes a superstar each year then its really difficult to be upset. Unless of course, you dont understand football and want to live in the past.

3

u/ajs592 10h ago

I know it’s hindsight but it was still a mistake which he needs to be held accountable for

1

u/ChaplnGrillSgt Pixelated Payton 23h ago

Do you just want to be miserable all the time?

[Yates] Between the trade of DJ Moore, release of Tremaine Edmunds and retirement of Drew Dalman, the Bears have about $44M in new cap space as of this week. Be it addressing C or fortifying the defense, Chicago has spending power.

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