Could the Chicago Bears Scoop Up Dustin Keller...

Free agency is about big splashes and big paydays but it is also about teams finding bargains that can pay off in the long run. Could the Chicago Bears do that by investing in Dustin Keller and Andy Levitre?

Dustin Keller and Andy Levitre have nothing to feel bad about. Sometimes players just don't fit on a roster anymore. The reasons can vary. For Keller, the New York Jets felt it best to save cap space but also not risk a long-term commitment to him after he missed most of 2012 with a pulled groin and high ankle sprain. At age 28 he still has plenty of years left and is a solid all-around tight end who was a favorite target for Jets quarterback Marc Sanchez. As for Levitre, the Buffalo Bills are simply in a tough spot. If they brought him back on a new deal they could end up paying over $15 million to the interior of their offensive line when including center Eric Wood and right guard Kraig Urbik. That is too much for a team still looking for answers at quarterback and on defense. Both players deserve new deals in free agency. The question is where will they go and how much will they demand?

Experts seem convinced of late that the entire top half of the upcoming NFL draft is an easy prediction for Chicago. They will either go for an offensive lineman or a tight end with a minor chance of picking up a replacement linebacker for Brian Urlacher. What is clear is fans grow overzealous towards using the draft entirely on building around quarterback Jay Cutler. The team has a new head coach in Marc Trestman who brings an offensive philosophy to the franchise. That in turn presents a problem. History shows it isn't the greatest idea for a team to suddenly commit their resources towards one side of the football. In fact, many times it shows that free agency and the low end of the draft are more than sufficient to keep an offense strong under an offensive coach while higher picks can safely fuel the defense. Besides, the Bears have needs there too. Their top four stars (Urlacher, Julius Peppers, Lance Briggs and Charles Tillman) are all over 30-years old. It would ease the fears of fans if they could add a young talent to the mix. That is where free agency comes in. Keller and Levitre aren't cheap additions but are definitely more affordable than the biggest names on the market. Keller has his injury issues while Levitre is a guard. It's just simple luck that the two of them fill critical needs for Chicago.

Jay Cutler needs the most help from the Chicago Bears for sure. That doesn't mean they should hold the entire NFL draft hostage to get it. Dustin Keller and Andy Levitre don't dominate headlines. That doesn't mean they can become key pieces to the championship puzzle.

Comments: 6

William McRann Jr. Mar 8, 2013, 10:15am UTC

for that to happen J.Pepper's will have to have his contract up dated. The Bear's really need to give that man some bonus money. Need to lower that CAP for the next 3 years.

Erik Lambert Mar 8, 2013, 11:56am UTC

Actually I've been reading up on that. There are two ways for the Bears to restructure his contract that would save $6 million in cap space. The problem is this will just make his cap numbers balloon next year and beyond. This means they will handicap themselves down the road or have to release him by 2015 at the latest.

I'm viewing that move as a last resort. If I were the Bears, my first priority is signing Melton to a long-term deal. They have until July but the quicker I do it the more time I have to get one of these free agents. Also, they can free up space by extending Tillman, Marshall and Jennings. Each went to the Pro Bowl and have earned it. Then I would cut Kellen Davis. Those moves could free up a good chunk of space, perhaps enough to get one of those two players and still bring back some of our own free agents like Urlacher and Lance Louis.

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William McRann Jr. Mar 8, 2013, 4:32pm UTC

If the Bear's draft a LDE to follow Peppers. Then the cut peppers how much CAP space does that free up? In other words can the Bear's make the decision to cut Peppers after the draft or before the start of the season?

Erik Lambert Mar 8, 2013, 5:15pm UTC

This is the way I see it, but don't quote me. As far as I can tell, the Bears would still have to pay Peppers $5.5 million even if they cut him. Now that means they would save $10.5 million in cap space. It's a nice chunk of change but useless if they wait until after the draft to do it. If my intent was to cut him, I would want that space ready for when free agency starts so I can use it to go after bigger names on the market. Perhaps I can lock up some help on the offensive line and at tight end, freeing me up to use that first round pick on defense, be that a LDE or a linebacker.

The problem is Peppers was a Pro Bowler again last year. He is still the best rusher the Bears have. Letting him go is a gamble I don't think Emery is willing to make even though I think our defensive line has enough young talent to survive without him. The unanswered question is how big will the drop off be? The defensive end pool in the draft is deep, but is there a guarantee they hit a home run? I suppose they could double up by signing a cheaper rusher in free agency and grab a young talent in the draft, affording them more time to develop. Based on how Emery thinks I would say it's not a move you can expect.

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William McRann Jr. Mar 9, 2013, 9:48am UTC

I believe the season starts officially on March 12. So the Bears would be better off by giving Pepper's an 8 million bonus that would cut the CAP for next 2 years. Also you need to move Hester he has no confidence in himself anymore.

Erik Lambert Mar 9, 2013, 12:07pm UTC

The goal is to push the big cap hit to 2015 when teams expect the NFL to raise the overall cap significantly. That would give the Bears leeway to deal with it. As for Hester, instead of releasing him I would demand he takes a pay cut and then keep him as our full time returner.

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Could the Chicago Bears Scoop Up Dustin Keller and Andy Levitre?

Comments: 6

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