Bears Extend Trevathan’s Contract, Making It More Possible That Floyd Will Be Sacrificed For Salary Cap Reasons

In a move few had seen coming, the Chicago Bears are extending the contract of veteran linebacker Danny Trevathan. His three-year deal, which a Chicago Tribune source said could total $24 million, appears to set the stage for the Bears to allow overachieving linebacker Nick Kwiatkowski to leave as a free agent and hints at the release of 2016 first-round pick Leonard Floyd.

Trevathan, who turns 30 in two weeks, signed a four-year deal with the Bears on the heels of leading the Denver Broncos in tackles in their Super Bowl 50 victory over Carolina. He’s been overshadowed by Khalil Mack, Eddie Jackson, Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman on the Bears’ highly regarded defense but is being valued as an essential ingredient.

Trevathan missed the last seven games of the 2019 season after a gruesome injury to his left elbow, which provided a chance for the 26-year-old Kwiatkowski to show he can be more than a special teams standout. He’s in position to land a solid contract of his own when the NFL’s free agent period ends next week. 

The Bears are expected to be active in upgrading their roster, with tight end Austin Hooper high on their list of targets. They are also pursuing the addition of an experienced quarterback who can compete with Mitchell Trubisky, whose standing fell during a shaky second full season as the starter. 

Accoring to Spotrac, the Bears were about $24 million below the salary cap before signing Trevathan. They could increase their flexibility by cutting Floyd, whose salary is due to jump to $13.2 million under terms of his fifth-year option. Anong his teammates, only Mack and wide receiver Allen Robinson are scheduled to earn more.

Is the juice worth the squeeze with Floyd? That’s a question that General Manager Ryan Pace is determining, as his salary is only guaranteed to injury. 

Pace has been publicly supportive of Floyd, who has started every game he’s played, including all 16 in 2019 and ’18. He was considered a disruptor at the University of Georgia but had only three tackles for losses and 12 quarterback hits last season.

“We’re happy with Leonard,’’ Pace told the Tribune in January. “I know the stats don’t always say that, but Leonard does a lot of things that may be a little bit undervalued … We’re never going to (discuss his contract), but we like Leonard. We’re glad he’s here.’’

If the Bears are going to dump Floyd, they must do it soon. His salary becomes fully guaranteed next Wednesday, when the new NFL years begins.