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The Bears are slowing down as they seek to stay below the salary cap and accommodate the $ 18 million franchise mark for receiver Allen Robinson.
The NFLPA lists the Bears as $ 22.4 million above the 2021 salary cap. This does not include Bobby Massie’s expected launch.
It also does not include the $ 23 million the Bears won with revamped deals for linebacker Khalil Mack, safety Eddie Jackson and striker Cody Whitehair, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The Bears plan to convert the base salary into signing bonus money for players.
Mack, who previously had his contract restructured in 2019, was scheduled to reach the $ 26.646 million salary cap.
The restructuring will create a ridiculous limit for Mack in 2022 and 2023. He was already scheduled to account for $ 27.15 million and $ 25.5 million against the limit in those two years.
His contract is scheduled to expire after the 2024 season.
The restructuring is likely to remove Mack from any potential trade scenarios.
This marks the first restructuring of Jackson’s five-year contract and $ 58.4 million, and the first of Whitehair’s five-year contract, $ 51.3 million. Jackson was scheduled to count $ 11.45 million against the limit in 2021 and Whitehair $ 9.6 million.