GM Ryan Poles doesn’t mess around. Already three prominent names from the once vaunted core of the Chicago Bears are gone in 2018. Khalil Mak was exchanged. Tariq Cohen and Eddie Goldman were cut. The purpose is obvious. Drop as many bad contracts as you can, clear your cap space, and get extra picks. The Poles know that resources should be reallocated to the attacking side of the ball, where the Bears have a lot of holes, especially on the flanks.
Allen Robinson, Marchioness Goodwin and Damier Byrd are free agents. Darnell Mooney is the only one with a credible contract. So it is not difficult to assume that in the next month and a half the Poles will somewhat aggressively strengthen their positions. He may have already come up with a few names. According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, there’s one name on their radar that Poles might like.
“Juju Smith-Shuster will have options this week, starting with a possible re-signing with Pittsburgh. Eagles, leaders, the Bears, I was told the Jaguars could also be involved in Monday’s break-in period.”
It’s been a tough two weeks for LB and DB to try and take on JuJu Smith-Schuster on open grass. #Steelers pic.twitter.com/8bvZJvQkDd
— Alex Kozora (@Alex_Kozora) September 21, 2021
Not surprisingly, the “bears” may be interested.
Juju Smith-Shuster hit the spot: young (25), talented, but after a difficult season when a shoulder injury sidelined him. This means that his price is likely to be lower than that of a former professional bowler. Smith-Schuster was projected to make about $16 million a season last year. He ended up getting a cheap one-year deal to stay in Pittsburgh, no doubt hoping to increase that number in 2022. It didn’t work the way he wanted.
Now he will probably be looking for the best contract he can get. The Chicago Bears were wise to consider him. Although Smith-Schuster is no longer the player he was in 2018, he is still a talented target who is especially good after the catch. Something that this team needs so much more. It comes down to how its market develops. The Poles are not like those who get involved in a trade war, especially at such an early stage of recovery.
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