Contracts Bears Must Consider Cutting in 2024 Offseason

The Chicago Bears enter the NFL offseason with an abundant amount of salary cap space compared to the rest of the league.

The Bears have $49 million of cap space to operate in, per Spotrac, but they could pick up more if they shed a few contracts.

Chicago will likely not move on from most of its top-tier contracts since those players were signed to be key pieces of the latest rebuild. Justin Fields will not get cut if the team brings in a new quarterback. A trade would likely happen in that scenario.

The Bears would likely get rid of depth pieces, if they were to purge their roster to create a bit more salary cap space.

Travis Homer

Travis Homer did not record a rushing yard for the Bears in 2023.

The former Seattle Seahawks running back inked a two-year, $4 million contract last offseason, but he did not contribute to the offense at all in his first season with the Bears.

Chicago can justify cutting Homer after one year due to the lack of any production.

There is a potential out in Homer’s contract in which the Bears would only incur a $225,000 salary cap hit.

That would be a wise move from the team’s perspective, and for the player, who likely will not get a chance at running back in 2024 with Roschon Johnson and Khalil Herbert on the roster. Both running backs are also on cheaper deals than Homer.

Velus Jones

Velus Jones has only made a significant impact on special teams in his first two NFL seasons.

The 2022 third-round pick has not panned out on the offensive end. He had 154 receiving yards in two seasons and just 54 yards in 2023.

Jones’ special teams record has some blemishes as well, and that could make it easy for the Bears to move on from the young wide out.

Jones is scheduled to make $1.4 million next season, but a release would only come with a $554,000 cap hit.

The Bears could keep him around for special teams, but if they find value elsewhere in that role, Jones is expendable.

Khari Blasingame

The Bears have to decide whether or not it is worth it to keep a fullback around on a $1.6 million salary.

Khari Blasingame is scheduled to make more money than both Johnson and Herbert in 2024, which is a crazy concept even in a league where running backs are valued less.

Blasingame played a role in the rushing attack with his blocking, but a potential release with no salary cap penalty could intrigue the Bears.

Chicago could look to the undrafted free-agent market, or the late rounds of the draft, to find someone who could block for both running backs.

A new offense with a potentially new quarterback could reduce Blasingame’s role and make his contract more expendable.