Bears To Sign OT Riley Reiff
The remodelling of Chicago’s offensive line continues. The Bears are signing veteran tackle Riley Reiff, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
The one-year pact carries a maximum value of $12.5MM, with $10MM of that total considered likely to be earned, Schefter adds. This marks the second straight offseason in which he joins a new team on a one-year free agent deal, albeit he is doing so far later this year than last. Reiff previously worked out with the Jets, who made an offer, but no deal ever came to fruition.
The 33-year-old joined the Bengals last year, on a contract which was smaller than the one he is signing now. He started all 12 games he appeared in, before being sidelined with an injury in December. He earned a PFF grade of 67.3, continuing his career trend of solid, yet unspectacular, play.
Another notable aspect of Reiff’s play last season, of course, was the fact that he played right tackle, after manning the blindside during his tenure in Minnesota. He didn’t live up to the expectations associated with the five-year, $58.75MM contract he signed to join the Vikings, but will provide starting-caliber play for the Bears’ new-look offensive front.
Chicago signed fellow veteran blocker Michael Schofield yesterday. It remains to be seen where he and Reiff will line up, but their additions should help protect Justin Fields better in his second season.
Latest On Bears LB Roquan Smith
Many of the biggest names around the NFL have reported to their team’s training camps already, or are expected to when practices begin later this week. The situation is significantly different in Chicago as it pertains to linebacker Roquan Smith. 
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Smith will not participate in the Bears’ camp tomorrow, the scheduled day for veterans to report (Twitter link). He therefore represents the first known case of a “hold-in” in 2022. Finances are at the heart of the move; Smith is set to play on the fifth-year option this season, which is valued at $9.74MM. The veteran linebacker is not attached to an agent, per Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, who notes a family member is in an advisory role here.
A long-term deal has widely been viewed as the goal on both sides, given Smith’s ascendance into one of the league’s top young linebackers. In 2021, he ranked fifth in the NFL with 163 tackles, adding three sacks, an interception and three pass breakups. The idea of an extension has been in consideration for months, but little progress has clearly been made.
When asked about getting a deal finalized before the start of the 2022 campaign, new general manager Ryan Poles said in May, “I don’t know if that’s how we’re going to handle it, but I would like to. Obviously the earlier you get to that, the better. But also with a new staff, we may wait a little bit, too.”
Rapoport adds that the 25-year-old has not received an offer that he would “remotely consider” to date, leading to his decision to sit out. The LB market hasn’t seen the upward trend of other position groups this offseason, but the deal given to Foyesade Oluokun in free agency (averaging $15MM per year) could be used as a benchmark in negotiations.
The Bears have moved on from a number of expensive front seven veterans this spring, freeing up future cap space as they look to rebuild around a new core. Smith figures to be a central member of that group, but plenty of work apparently needs to be done before he is officially on the books for the long-term future.
NFL Workouts: 7/25/22
As players are moved to the PUP and NFI lists and rosters are starting to take shape for the start of training camps, many players are searching for opportunities to make a team.
Here’s the list of players who have received workouts or taken visits today and this past weekend:
Atlanta Falcons
- CB DeMarkus Acy, CB Cortez Davis, CB Troy Pride
Baltimore Ravens
- RB Wayne Gallman, RB Corey Clement (signed), QB Vad Lee
Buffalo Bills
- CB Luq Barcoo, CB Donte Deayon, TE Stephen Carlson, TE Austin Fort, TE Gene Scott, S Marqui Christian, G Jamil Demby, G Jordan Simmons (signed), T Drew Himmelman, DE Damontre Moore, C Cole Toner
Carolina Panthers
- NT Danny Shelton (story)
Chicago Bears
- OL Michael Schofield (signed)
Cincinnati Bengals
- LB T.J. Brunson, LB Tegray Scales (signed), DT Domenique Davis (signed), DE Raymond Johnson (signed), DE Chris Odom, TE MyCole Pruitt
Green Bay Packers
- QB Nate Stanley, WR Jonathan Adams, WR Osirus Mitchell (signed), WR Ryan Wisniewski, C Ty Clary, G Denzel Okafor, CB Donte Vaughn, S Dallin Leavitt (signed)
Houston Texans
- RB Austin Walter, RB Artavis Pierce, RB Max Borghi, RB Cyrus Habibi-Likio
Indianapolis Colts
- WR Isaiah Ford, WR John Hurst, WR Ishmael Hyman, WR Tyson Morris
Jacksonville Jaguars
- QB Kyle Sloter (signed)
Kansas City Chiefs
- T Evin Ksiezarczyk (signed), David Steinmetz (signed)
Las Vegas Raiders
- S Steven Parker, S Jarrod Wilson, DE Abdullah Anderson, TE Ryan Becker, TE Cole Hikutini, TE Ethan Wolf
New England
- WR Derrick Dillon, WR Terry Godwin, WR Andrew Jamiel, WR Cinque Sweeting, TE La’Michael Pettway
New York Giants
- T Kendall Lamm, TE Eric Ebron, S Andrew Adams (signed), S Jack Koerner, T Caleb Benenoch, T Kamaal Seymour, DT Darrion Daniels, TE Kahale Warring, WR Marcus Kemp, DE Nicholas Williams
New York Jets
- WR Pharoh Cooper, WR Rashard Davis, QB Chris Streveler, G Isaiah Williams (signed)
Philadelphia Eagles
- RB JaQuan Hardy, TE Connor Davis, TE Jaeden Graham, TE Farrod Greene, RB Trey Ragas, WR Lance Lenoir, C Cameron Tom
San Francisco 49ers
- DE T.J. Carter, DT Tomasi Laulile, DT Robert Nkemdiche
Seattle Seahawks
- K Brandon Aubrey, DT Jared Brinkman, DT Antonio Valentino, TE Jake Hausmann, TE Rodell Rahmaan, DE Adam Rodriguez
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- TE Kyle Rudolph (signed)
Tennessee Titans
- S Jalen Elliott, CB Joshua Kalu (signed)
Bears To Sign OL Michael Schofield
The Bears have brought in an experienced offensive lineman ahead of training camp opening up. ESPN’s FIeld Yates reports (via Twitter) that Chicago is signing Michael Schofield. The move comes one day after he worked out with the team. 
The 31-year-old was a third-round pick of the Broncos in 2014. He was a full-time starter at right tackle, then right guard, in 2015 and 2016 (in which he earned a career-high PFF grade of 72). Despite playing a notable role on the Broncos’ Super-Bowl winning team, he was waived just ahead of the 2017 campaign.
That began his first Chargers tenure, which lasted three seasons. After making 15 appearances at tackle in 2017, he was once again a full-time starter along the interior for the next two years. He remained a consistent, if unspectacular, presence throughout that time, leading him to a one-year deal with the Panthers in 2020. He spent the summer of 2021 in Baltimore, but was cut at the end of August.
As a free agent, he headed back to the Chargers last season, with whom he made 15 appearances (including 12 starts). As a member of the team’s much-improved offensive front featuring Rashawn Slater and Corey Linsley, Schofield posted a pass-blocking grade of 75.2. Los Angeles continued their investment in protecting Justin Herbert by using their first-round pick on Zion Johnson.
In Chicago, Schofield will join a unit which lost James Daniels in free agency. The Bears attempted to land Bills guard Ryan Bates by signing him to an offer sheet, but Buffalo matched the contract. Schofield will provide a veteran presence to an offensive front very much in need of improving, as Justin Fields looks to take a step forward in his second season.
Falcons DT Eddie Goldman To Retire
Less than two weeks ago, Eddie Goldman agreed to terms with the Falcons. But the veteran nose tackle has changed his mind. Goldman instead intends to walk away from the game, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Goldman’s one-year Falcons deal was worth $1.3MM, and it came with just more than $1MM guaranteed. Goldman, who had previously spent his entire career with the Bears, will pass on a seventh NFL season to retire at 28. The Falcons have since confirmed Goldman’s intention (Twitter link).
This news comes days from the Falcons’ training camp report date for veterans. It also marks the second time in three years Goldman has made a late-summer decision not to play football. In 2020, the former second-round pick informed the Bears he was opting out due to COVID-19 concerns. Goldman returned to play one more season in Chicago, but the Bears’ new regime released him to start this offseason.
Goldman did well for himself as a pro, starting for a No. 1-ranked Bears defense in 2018. That unit, which featured accomplished veterans at most spots, helped snap an eight-season Bears playoff drought. More pivotal to Goldman’s path, the Bears took care of him shortly before that season commenced. Goldman signed a four-year, $42MM extension during the 2018 offseason. That deal came with $25MM guaranteed. While part of that contract tolled after his opt-out choice, the Florida State alum collected most of the money from that deal.
While Goldman later teamed with Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Danny Trevathan and Roquan Smith on one of the league’s top front sevens, he beat all of those vets to Chicago by going in the 2015 second round. Pace misfired with his first pick as Bears GM (wideout Kevin White) but hit on Goldman, who started 73 of the 81 games he played with the Bears. Though known more for run defense, Goldman finished his career with 13 sacks. One of those was a safety, coming when Goldman sacked Jared Goff to give the Bears a second-half lead in a 2019 upset win in Los Angeles.
The Bears disbanded this decorated front seven, for the most part, this year. Mack, Hicks and Trevathan are also gone, and Robert Quinn skipped minicamp as he aimed to be traded. The Falcons still have Grady Jarrett, but their defensive line still invites questions. Atlanta is starting over on the edge, having drafted two Day 3 pass rushers after signing Lorenzo Carter. Inside, Atlanta used Anthony Rush as its first-string nose tackle during the offseason. The team also has former second-round pick Marlon Davidson (one start in two seasons) as an interior D-line cog.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/13/22
Today’s minor transactions:
Chicago Bears
- Waived: LS Antonio Ortiz
The Bears moved on from the long snapper to make room for wide receiver N’Keal Harry, who was acquired from the Patriots. Ortiz spent four season at TCU, earning three Academic All-Big 12 First Team nods and being named a semifinalist for the 2021 Patrick Mannelly Award, which is handed out to the nation’s best long snapper.
After earning minicamp invites from both the Bears and Cowboys, Ortiz joined Chicago as an undrafted free agent back in May. This transaction likely means that veteran Patrick Scales will keep his LS gig with the Bears for an eighth season.
Bears To Acquire N’Keal Harry From Patriots
After spending nearly 18 months in trade rumors, N’Keal Harry has a new home. The Patriots are sending the former first-round pick to the Bears, Mike Garafolo and Ian Rapoport of NFL.com report (on Twitter).
The Bears have added a few new wideouts this offseason, one in which they said goodbye to Allen Robinson after four years. They will take a shot with Harry, who is going into a contract year.
The Bears will send a 2024 seventh-round pick to the Pats, Rapoport tweets. Harry is due a $1.87MM base salary in 2022. The Patriots will save around $1.2MM by dealing him. This will provide a bit of breathing room for the Patriots, who entered Tuesday with the least amount of cap room — under $2MM.
Considering Harry’s status as the highest-drafted wideout in Bill Belichick‘s 23-offseason Patriots tenure, his New England career and this trade return represent a massive disappointment. The Pats had traded for DeVante Parker and traded up for wideout Tyquan Thornton in this year’s second round. Harry had been moved off the radar and, after a recent report that indicated the Pats could excuse the injury-prone receiver from training camp or drop him ahead of that point, the Bears moved in to see if a rebound of some sort can commence.
Acquired ahead of Tom Brady‘s final Patriots season, Harry missed most of that turbulent year for the Pats’ receiving corps. The Pats had Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown and Mohamed Sanu on their roster at points that season, but the year unfolded with scant Harry involvement. A preseason ankle injury limited Harry to seven games in 2019. He missed five last season, with shoulder and knee maladies sidelining him. A healthier 2020 (33 receptions, 309 yards, two touchdowns) did not stop Harry’s freefall, and the Patriots acquired Nelson Agholor and Kendrick Bourne last year. That preceded a 12-catch Harry 2021 season and persistent trade/cut rumors.
While this wraps another Belichick-era draft miss at the receiver position, the Bears feature a less settled pass-catching corps. Behind Darnell Mooney, uncertainty resides ahead of Luke Getsy‘s first OC season.. Chicago signed Byron Pringle, Equanimeous St. Brown, Dante Pettis, David Moore and Tajae Sharpe this offseason and used a third-round pick on Velus Jones. At 25, Jones is several months older than Harry, who will turn 25 in December.
Beyond Mooney and Jones, the Bears are taking a number of fliers. They will get one of the NFL’s biggest receivers in this trade. Harry goes 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. He ended his Arizona State career with back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons and became the 32nd overall pick in 2019. Harry was that year’s second wide receiver selected, after only Marquise Brown. His going ahead of Deebo Samuel, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Terry McLaurin and Diontae Johnson both reflected poorly on the Patriots and reveals the receiver talent that can be had beyond Round 1. But the fourth-year pass catcher will have a stretch to impress a new Bears regime.
Bears WR David Moore Arrested
Bears wide receiver David Moore was arrested early Monday morning in Gainesville, Texas, according to ESPN’s David Newton. Moore was arrested on drug and weapon charges.
According to the Gainesville Police Department, officers responded to a 911 call about a “possible intoxicated person” asleep in a car that was parked in a Taco Bell drive-thru. When officers arrived, they found Moore at the wheel, with the report noting that the individual smelled of marijuana. Officers later found THC edible candies and three pistols inside the car, leading to Moore’s arrest for possession of a controlled substance and unlawful carrying of weapons.
Moore had a productive stint in Seattle, collecting 1,254 yards from scrimmage and 13 touchdowns between the 2018 and 2020 seasons. He split the 2021 season between Denver and Green Bay, seeing time in only three games. He joined the Bears on a one-year deal this offseason, and while he could compete for a role on offense, he’s likely heading toward a special teams gig.
As Newton points out, Moore is the third Bears player to get arrested this offseason. Back in April, wideout Byron Pringle was arrested for reckless driving without a license, and two weeks ago, linebacker Matt Adams was arrested and charged with misdemeanor gun possession. Like Moore, both Pringle and Adams joined the organization this offseason.
2022 NFL Cap Space, By Team
Between now and training camp, additional free agents will join teams. Several big names — from 2010s All-Decade-teamers Ndamukong Suh and Julio Jones — to longtime starters like Odell Beckham Jr., Jason Pierre-Paul, Trey Flowers and J.C. Tretter remain available as camps approach.
With savings from post-June 1 cuts in the rear-view mirror and fewer than 25 draft picks yet to sign their rookie deals, we have a pretty good idea of teams’ cap-space figures. Here is how the league currently stacks up for available funds:
- Cleveland Browns: $40.9MM
- Carolina Panthers: $25.1MM
- Chicago Bears: $23MM
- Dallas Cowboys: $22.5MM
- Las Vegas Raiders: $21.6MM
- Washington Commanders: $17.7MM
- Green Bay Packers: $16.9MM
- Miami Dolphins: $16.5MM
- Seattle Seahawks: $16.4MM
- Cincinnati Bengals: $15.8MM
- Los Angeles Chargers: $14.5MM
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $14.3MM
- Kansas City Chiefs: $14.3MM
- Atlanta Falcons: $13.4MM
- Philadelphia Eagles: $12.8MM
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $12.4MM
- Indianapolis Colts: $12.3MM
- Tennessee Titans: $11.9MM
- Arizona Cardinals: $11.5MM
- Denver Broncos: $11.5MM
- Minnesota Vikings: $10.9MM
- New Orleans Saints: $10.7MM
- Detroit Lions: $9.8MM
- New York Jets: $9.6MM
- Houston Texans: $9.2MM
- Los Angeles Rams: $7.7MM
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $7.7MM
- New York Giants: $6MM
- Buffalo Bills: $5.6MM
- San Francisco 49ers: $4.7MM
- Baltimore Ravens: $3.9MM
- New England Patriots: $1.9MM
- The Browns reduced Deshaun Watson‘s 2022 base salary to the veteran minimum. The suspension candidate’s cap number checks in at just $10MM, though the figures from the fully guaranteed deal the Browns authorized begin spiking in 2023. Watson’s cap number is set to rise to an NFL-record $54.9MM next year.
- Carolina has been in talks with Cleveland for months regarding a Baker Mayfield trade. The sides have not come to an agreement on how to divide Mayfield’s guaranteed $18.9MM salary. While the Browns are believed to have come up to around $10MM, Mayfield remains on their roster.
- The Bears, Cowboys and Raiders each vaulted into the top five because of post-June 1 cuts. Chicago and Las Vegas were the only teams to designate the maximum two players as post-June 1 releases.
- The Seahawks have been connected to a Mayfield trade, but they have been more likely to pursue the disgruntled QB via free agency — should this process reach that point. A Mayfield free agent signing would not require Seattle to make adjustments to its cap sheet.
- After restructuring Patrick Mahomes‘ contract last year, the Chiefs have not done so in 2022. The superstar passer is attached to a $35.8MM figure — the second-highest 2022 cap charge.
- Atlanta’s cap space factors in the team’s league-leading $63.2MM in dead money, a figure mostly created by Matt Ryan‘s individual dead-cap record ($40.5MM) emerging after the Falcons traded their 14-year starter to the Colts.
- Upon learning Tom Brady would be back for a third Florida season, the Buccaneers did restructure his deal. Brady counts just $11.9MM on Tampa Bay’s 2022 cap sheet, but due to the void years that helped the team save money, that number spikes to $35.1MM in 2023 — when Brady is not under contract.
- San Francisco power brokers have said for months a Jimmy Garoppolo trade is the organization’s goal. With the passer not yet fully cleared, the team — which is preparing for Deebo Samuel and Nick Bosa extensions to come to pass at some point — has a $26.95MM Garoppolo cap charge on its payroll. Releasing Garopppolo would save the 49ers $24.2MM.
- The Ravens have attempted to go forward with a Lamar Jackson extension, but the team has confirmed the quarterback has not expressed much interest in doing a deal now. The sides did discuss the former MVP’s deal during minicamp. Jackson is tied to a $23MM fifth-year option salary.
NFL Teams With Most Dead Cap
The Falcons made history when they traded Matt Ryan to the Colts this offseason. As a result of the trade, the Falcons were left with a record-breaking $40.5MM in dead cap. Thanks to the Ryan trade (as well as the trade of Julio Jones and the release of Dante Fowler), the Falcons lead the NFL with a whopping $63MM in dead cap heading into next season.
For a team that’s probably not looking to compete in 2022, this isn’t the biggest deal in the world. For competitive squads, a hefty dead cap charge could drastically limit their ability to add to their squad following final roster cuts and into the regular season. A team’s current dead cap commitment could also influence who they decide to cut at the end of the preseason.
So which teams have the most dead cap on their books? We’ve listed them in order below (h/t to Sportrac):
- Atlanta Falcons: $63,209,124
- Chicago Bears: $57,643,341
- Philadelphia Eagles: $54,915,221
- Houston Texans: $52,289,341
- Seattle Seahawks: $46,022,390
- New Orleans Saints: $33,347,982
- Pittsburgh Steelers: $30,863,174
- Las Vegas Raiders: $29,441,565
- New York Giants: $29,262,372
- Green Bay Packers: $24,628,608
- Carolina Panthers: $23,507,283
- Dallas Cowboys: $22,713,132
- Minnesota Vikings: $22,092,189
- Jacksonville Jaguars: $21,852,872
- Detroit Lions: $20,324,288
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: $19,445,910
- Cleveland Browns: $18,774,054
- Buffalo Bills: $16,601,356
- Denver Broncos: $14,938,136
- Tennessee Titans: $14,290,108
- Los Angeles Rams: $13,522,002
- Baltimore Ravens: $12,292,703
- Arizona Cardinals: $10,278,530
- Cincinnati Bengals: $9,592,578
- New England Patriots: $9,158,009
- Miami Dolphins: $8,483,400
- Kansas City Chiefs: $7,982,236
- Indianapolis Colts: $7,037,428
- San Francisco 49ers: $6,495,221
- Washington Commanders: $6,300,496
- Los Angeles Chargers: $3,661,167
- New York Jets: $2,092,411