Cash Situation Is Bears Divisional Salvation

The antidote for each Bears loss last fall had to be how much they were going to have in salary cap space next season.

They spent no money, brought in no consequential free agents beyond possibly Justin Jones and then right before training camp Riley Reiff. So what did you expect?

The sacrifice for one miserable loss after another, for a club-record 10-game losing streak, would be an ungodly amount of salary cap space. In March, they could rapidly ascend in the NFC North because they could take care of the talent deficit in a matter of a day or two of free agency.

Then Ryan Poles held his postseason press conference.

"I know everyone's talking about how much money we have and we're just gonna go crazy," Poles said. "We're gonna be sound so that we get the right players in here and we get good value."

Sound is boring, going crazy fun.

Whatever they do, they need to do it fast because they haven't even won in the NFC North since Thanksgiving Day of 2021.

WOULD BEARS REALLY TRADE JUSTIN FIELDS? ONE MOCK DRAFT DID

Poles told everyone they wanted to "take the North and not give it back."

It might be good to start first by winning a game in the North.

Just a friendly reminder that since Justin Fields was drafted, the bears have not beaten the Vikings or Packers once. You really got your guy 😂😂😂
— Official Vikings Burner (not troll) (@VikingsOnTop) February 14, 2023

If they don't go a little crazy with the cash, they'll be trying to stop Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson with a bunch of underafted types again and that doesn't work so well.

On the other hand, the division is jumbled up tight right now, much the way the AFC South was. Then Jacksonville had a lot of cash to spend and in one year won the division.

Here are the toughest decisions ahead for the Bears, other NFC North teams and their salary cap situations.

Chicago Bears

Toughest Roster Decision Looming

Giving a new contract to running back David Montgomery. He pours his soul into each run, is always among the league leaders breaking tackles and contributes as a pass blocker and receiver. But it's questionable whether they project a fifth-year running back who is the slowest one on their roster as a fit for their future. Even though they say they love him, the offense seems now to be more about speed or speed and power and Montgomery is not a breakaway back.

How Is the Salary Cap Situation?

There are no teams in the league set up better for spending money than the Bears, who have a league-high $85.6 million in effective cap space available as of Super Sunday. It's about $34 million more than anyone else. It was almost comical when GM Ryan Poles suggested at his postseason press conference that he wasn't about to spend wildly in free agency. The obvious response: And why not?

-Gene Chamberlain, BearDigest

Packer fan should be shutting the f*** up right now. Your weirdo QB has you in the headlock for the next 4 days and you’re worried about what a Bears fan is thinking https://t.co/l9WJGr9cpV
— EJ 🇺🇸 (@itsmine49) February 13, 2023

Detroit Lions

Toughest Roster Decision Looming

I think the toughest decision facing general manager Brad Holmes is whether or not to bring back wideout DJ Chark. He signed for $10 million last season, but it is uncertain whether he would accept a pay cut to return to Detroit. While productive when healthy, the talented wideout still missed six games in his first campaign in Motown.

How Is the Salary Cap Situation?

The Lions have more cap space than last offseason to re-sign their own free agents. Currently, the team has approximately $14 million in cap space, but could easily add $20 million in additional space by moving on from veterans like Michael Brockers, Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Romeo Okwara. Their current cap number available ranks 13th in the NFL.

-John Maakaron, All Lions

Green Bay Packers

Toughest Roster Decision Looming

Well, this is the most obvious answer in the history of sports journalism. Does Aaron Rodgers want to play in 2023 or is he going to retire? If he wants to play, will it be with the Packers? Or will he be traded and the baton passed to 2020 first-round pick Jordan Love. If the Packers go with Love, Gutekunst might let just about every free agent walk.

How Is the Salary Cap Situation?

According to OverTheCap.com, the Packers are about $20.4 million over the cap. If they trade Rodgers, they will be about $29 million on the wrong side of the ledger. There are plenty of levers to pull in terms of contract restructures, though that’s just the equivalent of whipping out a new credit card to pay off the old one.

-Bill Huber, Packer Central

The Lions play 12 games this year indoors… Let Goff cook 👀
— AMONG US ST BROWN (@That1LionsFan) February 13, 2023

Minnesota Vikings

Toughest Roster Decision Looming

Broadly, it's what to do with the expensive veteran talent on this roster. Adam Thielen, Harrison Smith, Dalvin Cook, and Eric Kendricks are all beloved household names in Minnesota who have been around since at least 2017, but they're getting older and have cap hits in the $11-20 million range next season. All four of those guys can still play to some extent, but are they worth their prices? Some tough decisions lie ahead.

How Is the Salary Cap Situation?

The reason why the Vikings may move on from some expensive mainstays is that they're near the bottom of the NFL in salary cap space, needing to clear over $20 million before the start of the league year. There are tons of ways to create cap space, so the Vikings will be able to add some impact free agents, but they don't have nearly the financial flexibility of a team like the Bears. Also, a market-setting extension for Justin Jefferson is likely coming this offseason. Can they afford to extend Kirk Cousins again alongside Jefferson's upcoming big contract?

-Will Ragatz, Inside the Vikings

Can't believe we're just a year away from the Lions in the Super Bowl.
— Pride of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) February 12, 2023

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

Add us as a preferred source on Google