The Bears have signed guard Cody Whitehair to a massive extension, sources tell Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). It will be a five-year, $52.5MM pact that features $27.5MM in guaranteed money, the second-highest guaranteed sum for a guard extension in league history.
Whitehair has been a key factor in the Bears’ offensive line success over the past three seasons, but despite earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2018, he was asked to change positions this year. Chicago is inserting 2018 second-round pick James Daniels at center, meaning Whitehair has been shifted to left guard.
Whitehair has experience moving between positions. At Kansas State, the now-27-year-old spent his first two seasons at guard before moving to tackle for his junior and senior campaigns. In the NFL, Whitehair has mostly stuck at center, although he did line up at both guard positions for a bit in 2018. The results have mostly been spectacular, as Whitehair graded as a top-10 center last season while ranking top-six in pressures allowed (min. 50% playtime), per Pro Football Focus.
Though the guarantee is nice, the average annual value of the deal ($10.5MM) shows that Chicago is paying Whitehair more like a top center than like a top guard. The AAV places Whitehair ninth among all guard contracts but third among all center contracts. But Whitehair, who would have been eligible for free agency in 2020, opted for the financial security of the extension rather than bet on himself for a marginally larger payday next year.
wow
No surprise. Everyone knew this was gonna happen.
Nothing to see here. Just move along.
Who would have ever thought we’d see the day where OL guards make more money than 90% of the starting running backs in the NFL. How times have changed!
I think the change is great because for many years offensive linemen had to stand by and watch skilled position players act like mercenaries while getting very little themselves.
Its the smarter choice as OL can play for years and into their 30s. Where RBs have at best a 4 to 5 year window
Great deal for a talented and unselfish team player. Whitehair could actually play any OL position. How many guys can say that? Well Done Pace!
I remember seeing him drop to the jets in the 2nd and was hoping they draft him. they so badly needed lineman but they drafted the hack who must not be named. 🙁