The NFL’s hot stove season kicked off early in 2018 with the trade that sent quarterback Alex Smith from Kansas City to Washington in exchange for cornerback Kendall Fuller and a draft pick, but that was just the beginning.
Cornerback David Amerson was released by the Oakland Raiders on Monday, in what is the first major move for the team since hiring Jon Gruden, and, naturally, the Bears aren’t wasting much time showing interest in the five-year pro.
Sources tell NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport that Amerson will visit the Bears on Wednesday and that other free agent visits are scheduled for a player who is already picking up major interest on the market.
Amerson, 26, was cut after three years with the team and two years into a four-year extension and two years after being named Pro Football Focus’ Most Improved Player. By cutting Amerson on Monday, the Raiders no longer have to pay his $5.5 million base salary for 2018, which would have been guaranteed if he was on the team’s roster on Wednesday. According to Spotrac, the Amerson won’t cost a dime as far as Oakland’s dead cap money situation is concerned and the team will save more than $21 million in cap space over the next three years.
Considering the Bears’ various needs at several positions and general aggressiveness when making offseason transactions, it should come as no surprise that GM Ryan Pace is already getting his ducks in a row.
More specifically, the Bears could have openings at both starting cornerback positions this offseason depending on what happens with free agents Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara. So Amerson’s market and the Bears’ reported interest in the cornerback will be worth monitoring.