Bears’ No.1 Draft Pick and 120M Cap Space All They Need? [Video]

Finally, Chicago Bears fans have a legitimate reason to be optimistic about their chances to make a deep run in the 2023 postseason. Two years ago, the Bears locked in their franchise quarterback in Justin Fields; now, they can go to work plugging in quality players to complete the roster. Having the NFL 2023 Draft overall first-round pick is the cherry on top.

Last year, the Bears started the process by getting their salary structure under control. Many of their veteran players were taken in free agency, traded, or released. Team General Manager Ryan Poles took a hit by having to absorb tons of dead money from released players’ contracts. But Poles felt the long-term benefits to the team would be worth it.

The 2023 projected salary cap has been raised from $208.2 million in 2022 to $224.8 million in 2023. The Bear’s 120 million places them far beyond any other 31 NFL teams. Poles could be looking to free up more cap space by cutting Cody Whitehair and Al-Quadin Muhammad, adding over 9 million to the cap space.

Teams Over Their Cap Space

Bears GM will be looking to snag prominent players that may be getting cut from their teams to meet NFL 2023 cap space requirement. 15 NFL teams are estimated to be over the cap space, but six are over 20 million.

• Buffalo Bills – $20.5 million over.
• Minnesota Vikings – $21 million over.
• Tennessee Titans – $23.68 million over.
• Jacksonville Jaguars – $32.27 million over.
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers – $55.7 million over.
• New Orleans Saints – $57.38 million over.

Multiple NFL teams have pending free agency challenges. The scenario is set for Bear’s GM to swoop in and relieve these teams of their great players.

Potential Players Available Through Free Agency

Buffalo has several starters that are on the open market. Safety Jordan Poyer, Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, defensive end Shaq Lawson, Vikings defensive end Dalvin Tomlinson, defensive back Patrick Peterson, Tennessee Titans right guard Nate Davis, Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Evan Engram, Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Leonard Fournette, defensive end Shaquil Barrett, wide receiver Mike Evans are at the top of the list.

One of the most entertaining facts about the NFL is that every year teams have the opportunity to improve upon their last year’s record through the draft and free agency. The Bears in 2023 have the most significant potential to go from worst to first.

NFL History of Worst to First

In 2020 the Cincinnati Bengals finished with a losing record of 4-11-1. They selected quarterback Joe Burrow with their first overall pick, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick, and kicker Evan McPherson in the fifth round. These three draft picks catapulted the Bengals into a Super Bowl just one year later.

Within the past five years, six NFL teams have ended their season in last place and followed that season as division winners. Statistics state that at least one team will go from worst to first every year.

In 2016 the Jacksonville Jaguars finished with a 3-13 record. The following year they won the AFC South. 2020 brought in new general manager Trent Baalke, and after a losing season the next year, they drafted Trevor Lawrence first overall in 2021.

Doug Peterson was brought in to replace Urban Myers in 2022. After consecutive losing seasons, the Jags drafted Travon Walker, DE, Georgia, with the first overall pick. Jacksonville thought Urban Myer was the man that would bring the team into the promised land, but he was not the guy.

Bears Hire New Head Coach and GM

Unlike Jacksonville, the Bears had a changing of both head coach and general manager in 2022, one year after Justin Fields was drafted. 2023 brought in former Big 10 president Kevin Warren as the Bears’ new president and CEO.

With all of this new fresh blood in Chicago, the number one draft pick, and over 120 million in cap space, the Chicago Bears would have to be the least competent team ever not to come out of this as NFC North division champs at the least.

Written by Omari Jahi

Source

Chicago Sports News: Salary Cap Update Brings More Good News For Chicago Bears by Erik Lambert

Yahoo!Sports: How Bears projected cap space went from $118M to $93M ahead of NFL Free Agency by Michael Allardyce

CBS/NFL: Ranking the NFL teams most likely to go from worst to first in 2022: Ravens top list, Panthers could surprise by John Breech

Top featured image and third inset image Courtesy of Erik Drost‘s Flickr Page – Creative Commons License

First inset image by LaDanian1000000 Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

Second inset image by All-Pro Reels Courtesy of Wikimedia – Creative Commons License