Forward Progress – Chicago Bears Cap Moves: Who Stays and Who Gets Cut?

Podcast: Forward Progress – A Chicago Bears Podcast
Hosts: Dan Bernstein & Matt Abbatacola
Date: February 10, 2026
Episode Theme: With the Bears facing real cap constraints for the first time in a while, Dan and Matt break down the salary cap crunch, difficult roster decisions, and what it means for key players as Chicago heads into the offseason.

Episode Overview

This episode confronts the Chicago Bears’ salary cap predicament following years of cap flexibility. Dan and Matt dive deep into decisions facing GM Ryan Poles and the front office: Who gets cut, who stays, and how health and value intersect for some of the team’s biggest names? Using a recent article by Kevin Fishbane (The Athletic) as a springboard, they weigh tough choices, evaluate likely outcomes, and debate positional value in the “new money” world for the Bears.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The End of Surplus Cap Space (00:22–02:34)

• Transition years: The Bears are out of the cap surplus era. For years, "look at all the cap space” was the narrative, now it’s gone — and that’s a sign of a competitive roster.
• “They spent several years well under the cap, and that was a big thing. Look at all the cap space. Well, guess what? That cap space is gone. It's gone and they're good. That's what's supposed to happen.” – Dan (00:48)
• Critical timing: Bears have not paid their quarterback (Caleb Williams) yet, meaning it’s pivotal to get maximum value ahead of the inevitable big extension.

2. Importance of Endless Draft Pipeline (02:57–05:17)

• Sustained draft success: The team must keep restocking with inexpensive young players to stay successful; can’t just draft a couple good years and expect to coast.
• “You must, must, must keep restocking through the draft with inexpensive players. If this is done correctly, the best players make the most money when they’re playing their best.” – Dan (03:15)
• Impactful rookie classes and cheap contributors are now non-negotiable as Bears move toward expensive QB reality.

3. Candidate Cuts: Who’s on the Bubble? (05:17–10:30)

• The major names discussed for cut/restructure:
  • Tremaine Edmonds: Savings of $15M, minimal dead money due to scheme mismatch under new DC Dennis Allen.
    • “The obvious name to cut is Tremaine Edmonds. … That’s a $15 million cap savings, a dead money of only 2.4.” – Dan (05:17)
  • Cole Kmet: Good tight end but $8.4M savings available. With heavy sets (12/13 personnel), production can be hard to replace but may be fiscally prudent.
  • DeAndre Swift: Productive but replaceable; $7.5M savings possible.
• DJ Moore: Can’t cut. Even post-June 1st, too costly in dead money. “That is financially irresponsible.” – Matt (06:58)
• Jalen Johnson: The biggest “hinge” decision. His late-season play looked hampered; $15.9M savings if cut (with $9M dead cap). The crux: is his injury trending right?
  • “If the Jalen Johnson … is what he is now, I’m cutting him. If … now he's healthy … different conversation.” – Dan (06:58)
  • “I mean, there's a cap savings of 15.9 million with a dead money hit of 9 million. That's … a lot to me.” – Matt (07:58)
  • Debate raged about health reporting, comparable injury recoveries, trusting medicals, and risk balancing.

4. The Cruel Math of NFL Cap Decisions (10:30–16:14)

• Taking emotion out: Dan stresses differentiating between emotional attachment and cold value analysis. “That player is not worth that money.” (08:50)
• The cruel side of football: “This league is cruel, and one of the ways in which it’s cruel is injuries take away who you are.” – Dan (09:10)
• If Johnson can’t get healthy, need to “live with a $9 million dead money hit” to save the larger cap number.
• Decision deadline looms (June 1) but complete medical certainty can be elusive.

5. Secondary Fallout & Position Prioritization (16:14–18:00)

• TJ Edwards: Another name flagged as an injury/replaceability question ($11M due, “bad injury”).
• Linebacker as fungible?: Linebacker has become (along with box safety & RB) a “replaceable” position unless the player is truly special.
  • “Linebacker is like the running back of the defense.” – Matt (16:57)

6. Tackles, Contracts, & the O-Line Dilemma (14:19–15:52)

• Darnell Wright possibly due to become “the highest paid tackle in football,” but positional fit (left vs. right tackle) raises contract structure questions and future leverage for both player and team.

7. The Reality of Success: Can’t Keep Everyone (15:52–18:14)

• Fans want to “run it back” with the full 2025 squad, but that’s not realistic.
  • “I know that everyone’s like, bring back everybody. It was awesome. It's just not reality.” – Dan (15:52)
• These are “good problems” for a contending team; forced to make hard choices to continue being good.

8. Early 2026 Power Rankings & Schedule (26:46–32:34)

• Power Rankings:
  • Eric Edholm has Bears seventh overall, third in NFC after Seattle and LA Rams.
  • ESPN slots Bears at 11th overall (seventh in NFC).
• Schedule toughness: “Hardest strength of schedule going into the year.”—Matt (30:50)
• Upcoming schedule includes a gauntlet of playoff and fringe-playoff caliber teams.

9. Offseason Travel and Tangents (32:34–35:00)

• The hosts lighten up with travel wish-lists (Seattle, Vancouver, Montreal, New York), pizza cravings, and inside jokes—mirroring the energy of Bears fans dreaming big in the offseason.

10. Mock Draft Preview and Perspective (35:00–43:34)

• Mock Draft (Chad Reuter, NFL.com):
  • 1st Round (#25): DT Kaden McDonald, Ohio State
  • 2nd Round (#57): S Jalen Kilgore, South Carolina
  • 3rd Round (#89): Edge Danny Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
• The hosts riff off each prospect’s bio and production, adding color commentary—especially on measurables:
  • “He has both height and weight!” (Dan, on Kaden McDonald, 39:02)
• Jokes about conjoined twin linemen, draft follies, and a potential “Pavia Cast” podcast about obscure QB prospects keep the banter flowing.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Draft Reliance:
  “You must, must, must keep restocking through the draft with inexpensive players.” – Dan (03:15)
• Tremaine Edmonds Situation:
  “The obvious name to cut is Tremaine Edmonds.” – Dan (05:17)
• Jalen Johnson Health:
  “If the Jalen Johnson that we saw at the end of the year is what he is now, I’m cutting him.” – Dan (06:58)
  “I have to know … is he going to be the player that he once was?” – Matt (10:53)
• On Emotional Decisions:
  “I'm trying to take emotion out of it, and it's very simple. That player is not worth that money.” – Dan (08:50)
• NFL Cruelty:
  “This league is cruel, and one of the ways in which it’s cruel is injuries take away who you are.” – Dan (09:10)
• On Reality vs. Fan Hope:
  “I know that everyone’s like, bring back everybody. It was awesome. It's just not reality.” – Dan (15:52)
• Linebacker Devaluation:
  “Linebacker is like the running back of the defense.” – Matt (16:57)
• O-Line Frustrations:
  “I've seen enough of the Darnell Wright or the Braxton story. ... You just wish him luck.” – Matt (15:16)
• Lighthearted Banter:
  “He has both height and weight!” – Dan (39:02) “Don't take the conjoined twins and make it center. Now you make it crazy.” – Dan (36:33)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Bears Cap Crisis Begins: 00:22–02:34
• Draft Pipeline Importance: 02:57–05:17
• Major Cut Candidates: 05:17–10:30
• Jalen Johnson Debate: 06:58–13:46
• DeAndre Swift, TJ Edwards, Others: 13:46–16:14
• O-Line & Darnell Wright Dilemma: 14:19–15:52
• Reality of Cap Cuts: 15:52–18:14
• Power Rankings/Schedule: 26:46–32:34
• Mock Draft & Prospect Banter: 35:00–43:34

Tone & Takeaways

• The episode blends hard-nosed, analytic cap analysis with humorous, sometimes irreverent friendship banter, keeping the conversation accessible and genuinely Chicago.
• Fans come away with a clear view: hard roster choices are here, few absolutes beyond DJ Moore, and health or development questions loom largest for this “good problem” roster.
• The Bears’ offseason will be defined by cold calculations, resilience in the draft, and rolling with the unpredictable nature of NFL injuries and scheduling.

For fans eager to understand the Bears’ 2026 offseason, this episode offers critical insights, tough truths, and the perfect dose of Bears banter.