Bears To Release Prince Amukamara, Taylor Gabriel
The Bears moved to clear some cap space on Friday by jettisoning two starters. They are releasing cornerback Prince Amukamara and wide receiver Taylor Gabriel, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Amukamara has been a Bears starter since he signed a one-year deal with Chicago in 2017. The ex-Giants first-round pick re-upped with the team on a long-term deal in 2018. One season remained on that three-year, $27MM contract. Two years remained on Gabriel’s pact. Altogether, the Bears will create $13.5MM in cap space by making these moves.
Gabriel signed a four-year, $26MM contract in 2018. That deal had no more guaranteed money. The ex-Falcon started 18 games for Chicago but battled injuries last season, limiting him to nine games. Chicago’s offense struggled as a whole last season, with Mitchell Trubisky regressing. The Bears drafted Anthony Miller and Riley Ridley over the past two years and possess greater needs than the wide receiver spot. Gabriel caught 96 passes for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns as a Bear. The 29-year-old target will get a head start on the receiver market because of this early cut.
Amukamara’s exit leaves a bigger hole. He was a key member of the Bears’ high-end defenses, starting alongside Kyle Fuller. The Bears, though, had a lot of money committed to their corner group after having signed slot man Buster Skrine a year re-upping Amukamara and matching the Packers’ offer sheet for the then-transition-tagged Fuller. Amukamara was set to earn a $9MM base salary in 2020.
Amukamara will turn 31 before Week 1 but figures to generate interest ahead of free agency. He settled for one-year deals with the Jaguars and Bears from 2016-17 before landing a multiyear Chicago accord. The Nebraska alum graded as Pro Football Focus’ No. 41 corner last season, which came after he graded higher for the Bears’ No. 1-ranked scoring defense in 2018.
The Bears now hold closer to $20MM in cap space after entering Friday with barely $5MM. More moves could be on tap.
Bears To Sign Demetrius Harris
The Bears have agreed to sign tight end Demetrius Harris to a one-year deal, as Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. Harris was let go by the Browns earlier this week, allowing him to reach free agency right away rather than waiting until March. 
Harris has history with head coach Matt Nagy. When Nagy was in command of the Chiefs offense, Harris was featured as a regular. In 2016 and 2017 – Nagy’s two seasons as OC – Harris caught a combined 35 passes for 347 yards and two touchdowns.
Harris flashed athleticism in Kansas City, but he didn’t progress as expected when he joined the Browns as a free agent in 2019. After he notched just 15 grabs for 149 yards and three touchdowns, the Browns terminated the second half of his deal.
Last year, Bears tight ends Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, and Ben Braunecker all finished the season on injured reserve. Harris might not be the team’s No. 1 TE, but he could be a part of the solution.
Greg Olsen Hopes To Hear From Bears
Greg Olsen has drawn tons of interest on the open market, but there’s one call that he’s still waiting for. In an interview with ESPN 1000 (Twitter link), Olsen said that he would like to hear from the Bears. 
[RELATED: Seahawks, Bills, Redskins Interested In Greg Olsen]
“I’ll be honest. In my heart I was hoping they would have been one of the first calls,” the tight end said when asked about the Bears. “To my knowledge we have not heard from them. Whether or not they do or not is hard to say.”
Olsen started his career in Chicago as the No. 31 overall pick in the 2007 draft and played four seasons for the Bears. The University of Miami product started paying dividends immediately and went on to average roughly 49 catches, 495 yards, and five touchdowns across four seasons with the club. Then, in the summer of 2011, the Bears shipped him to the Panthers for a third-round pick.
A reunion would make sense, and not just for nostalgia reasons. Last year, Bears tight ends Trey Burton, Adam Shaheen, and Ben Braunecker all finished the season on injured reserve. Olsen would make lots of sense for Chicago, but, so far, they’ve yet to show interest.
Meanwhile, plenty of other clubs would love to have Olsen. Since his release from the Panthers, Olsen has booked visits with the Seahawks, Bills, and Redskins. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network says Olsen will take his time with his decision and is not expected to sign quickly (video link).
2020 Draft Order
Super Bowl LIV is in the books, which means the order for the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft is set. By virtue of their 31-20 win Sunday night, the Chiefs will have the final pick in the first round. The 49ers dropping to 5-2 in Super Bowls will result in the NFC champions approaching the podium at No. 31.
Here is the full first-round order:
1. Bengals (2-14)
2. Redskins (3-13)
3. Lions (3-12-1)
4. Giants (4-12)
5 Dolphins (5-11)
6. Chargers (5-11)
7. Panthers (5-11)
8. Cardinals (5-10-1)
9. Jaguars (6-10)
10. Browns (6-10)
11. Jets (7-9)
12. Raiders (7-9)
13. Colts (7-9)
14. Buccaneers (7-9)
15. Broncos (7-9)
16. Falcons (7-9)
17. Cowboys (8-8)
18. Dolphins (via Steelers 8-8)
19. Raiders (via Bears 8-8)
20. Jaguars (via Rams 9-7)
21. Eagles (9-7)
22. Bills (10-6)
23. Patriots (12-4)
24. Saints (13-3)
25. Vikings (10-6)
26. Dolphins (via Texans 10-6)
27. Seahawks (11-5)
28. Ravens (14-2)
29. Titans (9-7)
30. Packers (13-3)
31. 49ers (13-3)
32. Chiefs (12-4)
Surgery For Bears’ Mitch Trubisky
Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky underwent surgery to repair the partially torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder shortly after the end of the season, ESPN.com’s Jeff Dickerson tweets. The typical recovery time for the procedure is around two months, which means that Trubisky should be ready to go well before training camp gets underway. 
[RELATED: Bears To Sign CFL CB Tre Roberson]
Although it’s not as serious as, say, surgery for his right shoulder, it’s a situation worth monitoring. Trubisky is coming off of a rocky year and even though the Bears intend on moving forward with him as their top QB, the issue could prompt the Bears to spend on a veteran backup.
There’s also the matter of Trubisky’s fifth-year option. The 2017 first-round pick can be cuffed through the 2021 season at a rate of $25MM, guaranteed for injury only. The Bears, at this point, are expected to trigger that option by the May 5th deadline, but a hitch in Trubisky’s recovery could give them pause.
The shoulder wasn’t Trubisky’s only injury in 2019, there was also a hip injury and other maladies along the way. All in all, Trubisky threw for 3,138 yards with 17 touchdowns against ten interceptions – a pretty big step back from his strong 2018 Pro Bowl showing. The Bears went 8-7 in Trubisky’s 15 starts and went 8-8 on the year, falling short of the playoffs.
Bears To Sign CFL CB Tre Roberson
A Canadian Football League cornerback who has been on the NFL radar for several weeks, Tre Roberson made his decision. He agreed to a deal with the Bears, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets.
Roberson, who is viewed as this year’s best CFL-to-NFL prospect, participated in a few workouts and drew the attention of at least 10 teams during this process. He will join the Bears, however, and for a higher rate than the usual CFL imports receive.
The 27-year-old defender will sign for what is believed to be the highest rate for a CFL import since the Dolphins added Cameron Wake in 2009, Schefter adds. Wake received a four-year deal worth nearly $5MM, with close to $1MM guaranteed, 11 years ago. While Roberson will not exactly make high-end cornerback money on this Bears deal, the investment is notable nonetheless.
This is not Roberson’s first NFL venture, though. He spent the 2016 and ’17 offseasons with the Vikings and went to camp with Minnesota each year. He did not make the team either summer but did spend extensive time on Minnesota’s practice squad.
A 2016 UDFA out of Illinois State, Roberson resurfaced on the NFL radar after two seasons in Canada. He played two seasons with the Calgary Stampeders, helping the franchise win the Grey Cup during his time up north. He intercepted seven passes and notched two return touchdowns during the Stampeders’ 2019 season.
The Bears have starters Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara signed long-term. They added slot man Buster Skrine last year and drafted Kevin Toliver in the sixth round last year. Based on the guarantee, Roberson will be a great bet to be part of this group next season.
Bears Leaning Toward Keeping Floyd?
- If the Bears do not release Leonard Floyd, he will be on their books for $13.2MM — once his fifth-year option vests. With Khalil Mack‘s cap number spiking to $26.6MM — from an $11.9MM figure in 2019 — that would mean the Bears would have approximately a fifth of their salary cap tied to two players. But Ryan Pace‘s indications thus far have been Floyd will be a Bear next season, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune notes. If, in fact, the Bears do retain Floyd, it would seemingly behoove them to extend the 2016 first-rounder or restructure Mack’s deal to lower one of the pass rushers’ cap numbers. Floyd recorded just three sacks this season and has not eclipsed 4.5 since his 2016 rookie year.
Latest On Bears' Potential Dalton Interest
- Andy Dalton and new Bears offensive coordinator Bill Lazor remain close, and JLC can envision this being a factor in how the quarterback dominoes fall during what could be a complex offseason at sports’ marquee position. Dalton “loved” playing for Lazor during his time as Bengals QBs coach and OC, per JLC. Although the Bears have committed to starting Mitchell Trubisky next season, he certainly has not lived up to his No. 2 overall draft slot and could be pushed like 2015 No. 2 pick Marcus Mariota was this season.
Bears Announce Coaching Moves
- The Bears officially announced a number of previously-reported coaching moves this evening: the hiring of offensive coordinator Bill Lazor, the hiring of John DeFilippo as QBs coach, and the promotion of Dave Ragone to passing game coordinator. The team also announced a handful of additional promotions, including Brian Ginn as assistant special teams coach, Chris Jackson as assistant wide receivers coach, and Shane Toub as defensive quality control coach (via The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain on Twitter).
Bears To Hire John DeFilippo As QBs Coach
The Bears have hired former Jaguars offensive coordinator John DeFilippo as their new quarterbacks coach, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Incumbent Chicago quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone is being promoted to passing game coordinator.
DeFilippo didn’t last long in the free agent coaching ranks after being let go by Jacksonville earlier this week. The 41-year-old spent only a single season with the Jaguars, leading an offense which ranked 24th in offensive DVOA and 26th in scoring.
In Jacksonville, DeFilippo was dealt an early blow when free agent addition Nick Foles went down in Week 1, but he was able to coax a reasonable performance out of sixth-round rookie quarterback Gardner Minshew. The Jaguars represented DeFilippo’s third OC job, and neither of his first two gigs (with the Browns and the Vikings) lasted more than one year, either.
In Chicago, DeFilippo will work alongside Ragone and new offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in an effort to right the Mitchell Trubisky ship. Head coach Matt Nagy will retain play-calling duty, but DeFilippo, Ragone, and Lazor will surely all have a hand in not only Trubisky’s continued development, but the Bears’ weekly game-planning.