Key Takeaways:
– The Chicago Bears may have to make hard decisions ahead of the 2024 NFL season.
– Larry Borom, Velus Jones Jr., and Travis Homer are top cut candidates.
– The Bears’ 53-man roster for the next season will be shaped by several factors like salary caps and performance.
– Practice and training camps scheduled before the next season could determine the future of some players.
The Chicago Bears appear to be shifting gears from their reconstruction phase, hinting at a stronger bid for the NFL playoffs in the 2024 season. However, the shift also means potential roster changes. Some veteran players might find themselves facing an uncertain future as the team begins to mold their 53-man roster for the upcoming season.
Practice Period to Decide Future
The Bears have slated their official OTAs for May 20, followed by six on-field sessions until the end of the month. A mandatory minicamp is planned for June 4 to 6, before a break until late July’s training camp. The majority of the roster battles will happen during the camp and preseason, but some veterans will be relying on the practice period to prove they deserve a spot for 2024.
Potential Players to be Cut
Headlining the list of potential cuts is offensive tackle Larry Borom. His performance over the past seasons has been disappointing and the recent draft of Kiran Amegadjie marked him as expendable. According to Pro Football Focus, Borom recorded the seventh-worst overall grade and the sixth-worst pass-blocking grade in the league in the 2023 season. The anticipation is that the Bears might find a trade partner, saving them around $3.19 million in 2024.
Rain Clouds over Velus Jones Jr.
The next player whose future looks shaky is wide receiver and kick returner Velus Jones Jr. Initially seen as a versatile offensive weapon, Jones, unfortunately, failed to deliver to the Bears’ expectations. His contribution to the team’s offense over his first two seasons was virtually non-existent, with just 11 career catches, 17 carries and two touchdowns across 26 games. Cutting Jones would save the team $1,196,448 and $1,442,172 in 2024 and 2025 respectively.
Travis Homer in Tight Spot
Lastly, running back Travis Homer, who was primarily used as a special teams ace, might see himself leaving the Bears. He was signed for two years in 2023, but his impact has not been significant enough. Even when the team was shorthanded due to injuries, they appeared to lack trust in Homer’s abilities. Cutting him would result in a saving of $1,885,294 for the Bears.
Wrapping Up
The Chicago Bears are heading into a key moment before the next NFL season, where hard decisions will have to be made. The Bears need to strike a balance between the salary cap and fostering a competitive team capable of contending for the playoffs. The destiny of Borom, Jones, and Homer, could be indicative of the paths to be taken by other players in similar situations.
Finalized decisions will likely be made post-training camps or during the preseason. Until then, all eyes will be on the Bears and the veterans, awaiting the outcomes of these potential changes.
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