In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, normal supervisor Ryan Poles has loads of salary-cap area to transform a roster that completed 3-14 in 2022.
As the NFL’s new league yr approaches, permitting free brokers to start signing with new groups, the Tribune will monitor the entire Bears’ arrivals and departures and supply perception into what they imply.
The free-agency negotiation window will open throughout the league at 11 a.m. Monday. Unrestricted free brokers can finalize offers when the brand new league yr begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Here’s the newest.
Friday
Long snapper Patrick Scales is returning to the Bears, his agent tweeted.
What it means: Scales, 35, has been with the Bears since 2015 and hasn’t missed a sport within the final 5 seasons. He returns with a specialist unit that features kicker Cairo Santos and punter Trenton Gill.
Scales is the longest-tenured Bears participant on a roster that Poles has largely turned over.
Tuesday
The Bears are bringing again veteran fullback Khari Blasingame on a two-year extension, based on his company.
What it means: Blasingame joined the Bears on a one-year deal final season. And whereas he didn’t obtain an offensive contact, he stays well-regarded inside Halas Hall for his intelligence, work ethic and toughness.
As a blocker, Blasingame contributed to a Bears offense that averaged a league-best 177.3 dashing yards per sport whereas setting a single-season franchise document with 3,014 dashing yards. It might be attention-grabbing to see how his position evolves or expands in 2023 as coordinator Luke Getsy continues to mould the scheme across the gamers he has.
The Bears have vital work to do to stabilize their offense and should work via their plans within the backfield with David Montgomery in line to hit the open market subsequent week. But Blasingame’s return was a precedence. The veteran fullback spent his first three seasons in Tennessee and can look to carve out an even bigger position with the Bears this season.
Feb. 17
The Bears are releasing defensive finish Al-Quadin Muhammad, ESPN reported.
What it means: Muhammad signed a two-year, $8 million contract final spring to hitch coach Matt Eberflus in Chicago. Muhammad, who’s getting into his seventh NFL season, was coming off a profession yr with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 by which he had six sacks and 13 quarterback hits. But he totaled simply 21 tackles, one sack, three quarterback hits and a compelled fumble in 16 video games with the Bears final season.
The Bears had been anticipated to revamp a line of defense that contributed to only 20 crew sacks. Cutting Muhammad, who might be 28 in March, saves almost $4 million in salary-cap area and comes with simply $500,000 in lifeless cap area, based on Spotrac.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com