NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears’ secondary is going to look different next season.
So will their group of wide receivers.
News from ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Bears are releasing WR Taylor Gabriel and CB Prince Amukamara, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 21, 2020
Schefter reports the Bears are releasing wide receiver Taylor Gabriel and cornerback Prince Amukamara. Doing so now allows both players to get ahead of the upcoming free agent market as they search for new gigs for the 2020 NFL season. Of course, it does much more than that.
As for the Bears-specific ramifications, the most important thing here is the cap savings that will go into effect by making these cuts. Chicago is creating an estimated $13.5 million in cap savings by parting ways with Amukamara and Gabriel. That’s a significant amount of coin. By OverTheCap.com’s estimate, the Bears available salary cap after these moves increases to $26,105,111 (including the savings from Kyle Kong’s retirement). Considering that the Bears came into this offseason with around $13 million in available cap space, cutting Amukamara and Gabriel roughly doubles that amount.
But it comes at a cost, as Chicago is now in the market for a starting cornerback and a receiver who can start in the “Zebra” position in Matt Nagy’s offense. After all it’s not as if either player is irreplaceable. Gabriel missed a chunk of time due to concussions in 2019, while Amukamara was slowed by a hamstring injury late in the year. The Bears could stand to get younger at both positions, but I can’t act as if neither won’t be missed.
