How the Bears Can Clear Enough Cap Space to Sign Another Top Free Agent

The Chicago Bears have been active early and often during the opening stages of NFL free agency. Thus far, the team has inked an expensive deal with defensive end Robert Quinn (five years, $70 million) and traded for quarterback Nick Foles and his massive contract in a more stunning move.

Following those transactions, Chicago has less than $7.5 million cap space to work with. That presents a problem, as general manager Ryan Pace surely aims to bolster this roster further. Therefore, he's going to have to get creative in order to find the moneey for another coveted free agent.

Chicago was smart to restructure Foles' contract, but the team still needs to recognize some of the the redundant players it's presently rostering. The first player that comes to mind is veteran defensive back Buster Skrine and his $6.1 million cap hit. The 30-year-old started just four games in 2019.

Elsewhere, the Bears could look to part ways with tight end Adam Shaheen, who will be well behind the likes of Jimmy Graham and Trey Burton on the depth chart in 2020. The organization would salvage nearly $2 million in cap space.

If Chicago really wanted to get crazy, it could look to divorce itself from defensive tackle Eddie Goldman as well. He played fewer than 45% of the defensive snaps in 2019, and didn't make the most out of his playing time. The Florida State product registered just 29 tackles, two quarterback hits, and one sack last season. He's owed $4.75 million in 2020.

The opportunity is still there for the Bears to make another splash in free agency. Pace will just have to make some potentially difficult decisions to make it possible.