NEWSLETTER
I wouldn’t go as far as to say I’m worried about Jaquan Brisker being the only Bears draft pick to not sign their rookie deal. But I do have some concerns. Bears rookies report to Halas Hall for training cap this weekend. And one week from Thursday, the team will have its first open training camp practice. With that in mind, you’d think it would behoove the Bears to lock in the last member of their draft class.
And yet, it hasn’t happened.
Perhaps this explains why:
Even though second-round picks don’t receive what their first-round contemporaries get, things still line up for a decent deal. Using OverTheCap.com’s calculations, the total value of the 48th pick (where Brisker was chosen) has a total value of $7,971,982. And it comes with a projected signing bonus of $2,9777,804. In other words, there isn’t much to haggle about. But there is something. And perhaps it is as small as third-year guarantee money.
As Brad Spielberger points out in his tweet, the pick *BEFORE* Brisker – Commanders defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis – was successfully able to come to terms on a deal that came with more than $111,000 in guarantees. Ideally, that would work in Brisker’s favor if that turns out to be the hang-up in negotiations with the Bears. HOWEVA, the player taken two picks after Brisker – Patriots receiver Tyquan Thornton – didn’t have any third-year guarantees when signing his rookie deal. And *THAT* probably works in favor of the Bears if the hangup is coming from their end. Sure, it looks tiny, but it isn’t inconsequential.
All in all, this isn’t something that should be keeping Brisker from having a signed contract. The Bears haven’t had issues signing high-profile draft picks since Roquan Smith’s lengthy holdout over offset language in 2018. And for what it’s worth, that whole episode feels like a distant memory since Smith came out like gangbusters as a rookie and has been playing at a high level since. Nevertheless, the Brisker situation is worth monitoring. After all, the last thing these Bears need is a rebuilt secondary under a new coach and coordinator being unable to build chemistry and a rapport early over what might be $100,000 in guarantees on a rookie deal.
