GM Ryan Pace has established himself as a master of the salary cap. This means he’s always aware of the Chicago Bears contract situations. It’s a huge part of his job. He can’t just think about the present. He has to take the future into account as well. This is why he so often signs players to short-term deals. He wants to maintain maximum long-term flexibility whenever possible.
With that said he’s also proven quite adept at settling player contracts before they become huge issues. Last year he locked up Akiem Hicks and Charles Leno Jr. long before free agency emerged on the horizon. There’s a strong chance he may try to do the same again this year. It’s a matter of figure out which names will get the highest priority.
Based on the current data available, here are the five players that must be watched the most for various reasons. Some due to their high value and others due to the vital positions they play.
Key Chicago Bears contract situations
#1: Eddie Goldman (DT)
There’s not much debate here. Eddie Goldman is the vital cog of the Bears defensive line. It may not show in the stat sheet but his presence at nose tackle is a key component to their entire run defense, enabling the inside linebackers to operate without having to constantly take on blocks from offensive linemen. Add in his underrated ability to squeeze the pocket as an interior pass rusher and it’s hard to understate his value to the Vic Fangio scheme. The best part is he likely won’t cost too much, so the deal shouldn’t be difficult to get done.
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#Bears NT Eddie Goldman and DL Akiem Hicks utterly destroy the #Ravens O-Line here pic.twitter.com/vgRprYI6o4
— Al B. Sure (@TreyBizzy) October 17, 2017
#2: Adrian Amos (S)
The man who did himself the most favors of anybody in 2017 was Adrian Amos. He was benched early in the season in favor of veteran Quintin Demps. However, when Demps broke his arm it gave Amos another chance. He took it and produced the best all-around season of his career. It was the first sign that he could be a real playmaker for this defense. The question now is will his development continue to progress or was last year a mirage brought on by desperation? That’s what the Bears will wait to find out.
#3: Bryce Callahan (CB)
The Bears like Bryce Callahan. Whenever he’s been on the field he’s proven himself a capable cover corner, particularly in the slot. On top of that, he presented value on special teams as well. The problem is Callahan is unreliable. He has suffered a large number of injury problems over the course of his career to this point and the Bears aren’t sure if they can trust him. That’s why they only signed him to a one-year extension. This year will prove once and for all whether he can finally shake that issue.
#4: Bobby Massie (RT)
The Bears offensive line looks stable for the first time in years. Almost every position seems to have a long-term starter in place, save for one. The fate of right tackle Bobby Massie remains up in the air. His contract expires next year and the Bears haven’t made it clear what their intentions are with him. Given the demands of a new offensive system under Matt Nagy, it’s quite possible they could decide to let him walk. He turns 30 in 2019 as well, so it wouldn’t be a difficult decision.
Brandon Graham gets right around Bobby Massie for the sack pic.twitter.com/xEJzFgLwAS
— The Bitter Birds (@AdrianFedkiw) November 26, 2017
#5: Aaron Lynch (OLB)
The state of the Bears pass rush is a topic of great concern for fans. With good reason too. The overall talent and depth is a huge question mark. That’s why eyes will be squarely fixed on Aaron Lynch this year. The former 49ers outside linebacker was signed to help with this issue. He has experience playing under Vic Fangio and still plenty of room to grow. There’s a chance he might become a mainstay for them if things work out. That makes having him under contract now of vital importance, opening up a chance for extension down the line.
