Chicago is cutting bait with several of their 2017 free agents. The Bears have officially cut wideout Markus Wheaton. We heard earlier today that the receiver was likely to be cut (via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune (on Twitter)). Wheaton was scheduled to carry a $5.75MM cap hit, but the Bears released him with just $750K in dead money.
The Bears have also announced the release of quarterback Mike Glennon and cornerback Marcus Cooper. We heard last month that the organization was going to move on from Glennon, and the veteran has already agreed to a deal with the Cardinals.
After adding Allen Robinson and Taylor Gabriel to the wide receiver stable, the Bears can afford to part with Wheaton, who was part of a failed 2017 free agent class for general manager Ryan Pace. Chicago added Glennon, Cooper, tight end Dion Sims, safety Quintin Demps, and Wheaton last offseason, but none panned out during their first Windy City campaign.
Wheaton, 27, managed only 51 receiving yards for the second consecutive season. Injuries limited him to just 11 games, but he only put up three receptions on the year. In three of his five NFL campaigns, Wheaton has posted six receptions or fewer. Defenders will point to Wheaton’s 40+ catch seasons in 2014 and 2015, but Wheaton hasn’t been productive in some time, and could struggle to find a deal on the open market.
Following a career-year with the Cardinals in 2016, Cooper disappointed this past season in Chicago. The cornerback finished the campaign with 18 tackles and three passes defended in 15 games (four starts).
Pace has stunk in free agency let’s hope he gets it right this year
The Bears have stunk in free agency for most of my adult life. It’s really an indictment on the franchise, not just Pace. However, it is safe to say Pace has not demonstrated much as an evaluator of talent.
Has he? He offered Bouye more money than the Jaguars did… McPhee was fantastic when healthy, which unfortunately wasn’t frequently enough. Outside of that, he hasn’t put any big contracts on the table. Say what you want about the Glennon contract, but for what it was, it was structured extremely well. Everything else has pretty much been “prove it” deals. I’m much happier with where they are now compared to if he would’ve given out massive contracts to mediocre players. At least the Bears aren’t a bad team that’s also in cap hell.
Up till now, I’d give him an “incomplete” grade on free agency. This will be the make or break class for him since it’s the only time I’d consider him “going for it.”
So you’re not impressed with the FA class he’s brought in already this offseason? I mean I wasn’t impressed with Pace so far either, but this offseason he’s been outstanding IMO
I’m sure the additions will help sell tickets in September. But time will tell if they help sell tickets in January.
I like what they’ve one so far. They should’ve gone after Trumaine Johnson. He would have made the whole secondary awesome. That being said, the first two draft picks now need to be defense, Give Fangio some help. Either the CB from Ohio state or the LB.
Who says they didn’t? He got paid a ton of money. Bears cant bring in too FA at every position…
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Since they gave Prince 9 million a year and Trumaine got 15 million a year, would of been worth the extra 6 million to have maybe the best shut down CB in the league. Johnson, Fuller and Jackson and then draft the LB would of been a huge shot in the arm for Fangio.
Did you just say “extra 6 million”? You think Fangio didn’t have some kind of input on Prince? Maybe that extra 6 million could go towards getting another interior LB opposite Travathan, or another OLB that can edge rush? Or maybe more quality depth in the secondary behind Fuller, Prince, Jackson, and Amos. Not to mention the needs we still have on the interior O Line. Why drop all that money on one position right now?
Not really sure what needs the Bears have on the interior offensive line as that is a strength we have right now. Long, Whitehair, Grassu, Kush, Compton are very capable. Enough so that they let Sitton walk. To win the division you need a shut down CB. Ours are decent, not shut down. Like I said, the Bears fixed a lot on offense in FA. Those first 2 picks need to be D. Either the CB from Ohio St or the LB if they’re there. If not trade down and get more picks.
I think it’s interesting that the bears had exclusive rights to Prince until yesterday and only chose to resign him after all the best CB’s were either traded or signed. If Fangio really had all that input and wanted him signed, it would have been done before FA. They didn’t get worse, but they didn’t get better either. I have no faith in Callahan, but everyone else seems to. Personally I like LeBlanc better. But that’s just me.