NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears know what they have in Adrian Amos, a safety who’s started 56 games in his four-year career and has been a steady contributor to one of the league’s best defenses. On the other side of the coin, Amos knows what he has in Chicago, a competitive team in a win-now mode ready to pry this window of contention open for as long as possible. What’s unknown at this point is whether the two sides can come to an agreement before one of the NFL’s best pending free agents can hit the open market.
In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio, Amos said the two sides have been in communication. And while a deal doesn’t seem imminent, Amos makes it seem like both sides are interested in working something out.
“I want to be back in Chicago,” Amos said, via SiriusXM NFL Radio. “Chicago has been talking back and forth, they want me back. But we’ll see how things shake out. Nothing is certain right now. It’s still a little early. Over the next couple weeks, I guess we’ll find out a lot more.”
Alright, so Amos has established that 1) he wants to be back in Chicago and 2) the Bears would like to have him back. Now that it’s settled, let’s draw up a deal and bring back one of football’s best starting safety tandems. Right? Oh, if it were only that easy – the business side of things clouds Amos’ future.
Indeed, as we’ve discussed: Amos’ price tag is on the rise and the Bears have limited cap space. That pesky salary cap really knows how to muck up a good thing.
As it stands, Amos figures to net a deal that would make him one of the 10 highest-paid players at his position. So it’s not inconceivable that he could fetch a top-5 contract at his position if he hits free agency. Could that big-money free agent deal come from Denver, where a reunion with his former defensive coordinator be on the horizon?
“I don’t know, but obviously that would be a fit where I know the defense and things like that,” Amos said. “But it’s not something I’m pinpointing … I’m just keeping all options open. First and foremost, I’m a Bear right now, so that’s a main focus early on.”
Even though Amos sounds like someone who would be open to the idea of teaming up with Vic Fangio again, it seems like his top priority is working out a deal to stay with the team that drafted him in 2015. That’s sensible. Amos has been a rock in the Bears’ secondary since playing his way into a starting role as a rookie, blossoming into a Pro Football Focus favorite two years later, and settling into a dynamic tag team with All-Pro Eddie Jackson.
The Bears should want Amos back and Amos should want to be back. Each side knows the other well, so why mess up a good thing? Unfortunately, it’s not that simple. And like Amos, we’re stuck playing the waiting game as the countdown until other teams can legally negotiate with player representatives ticks on.
