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5 Players the Chicago Bears Should Cut During 2016 Offseason

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5 Players the Chicago Bears Should Cut During the Offseason

5 Players the Chicago Bears Should Cut During the Offseason Reinhold Matay USA TODAY Sports
Even though they will finish no better than 7-9 this season, the arrow seems to be pointing up a bit for the Chicago Bears. Looking ahead to 2016, here are five players the Bears should cut before next season.

Even though they will finish no better than 7-9 this season, the arrow seems to be pointing up a bit for the Chicago Bears. Looking ahead to 2016, here are five players the Bears should cut before next season.

5. TE Martellus Bennett

TE Martellus Bennett Sean M. Haffey Getty Images
The Bears should find a trade market for Bennett as he enters the final year of his contract, and he is sure to continue being a distraction if he can't get a contract extension. If push comes to shove, and Bennett's trade value never materializes, the Bears would carry just $1.125 million in dead money into next year by cutting him.

The Bears should find a trade market for Bennett as he enters the final year of his contract, and he is sure to continue being a distraction if he can't get a contract extension. If push comes to shove, and Bennett's trade value never materializes, the Bears would carry just $1.125 million in dead money into next year by cutting him.

4. WR Eddie Royal

WR Eddie Royal Jerry Lai USA TODAY Sports
Royal has had an injury-hampered 2015 season, with 37 receptions for 238 yards over nine games heading into Week 17. The potential loss of Alshon Jeffery in free agency may alter the Bears' thinking, but it's hard to make a case for paying Royal $4.5 million next year even though it would result in equivalent dead money to cut him.

Royal has had an injury-hampered 2015 season, with 37 receptions for 238 yards over nine games heading into Week 17. The potential loss of Alshon Jeffery in free agency may alter the Bears' thinking, but it's hard to make a case for paying Royal $4.5 million next year even though it would result in equivalent dead money to cut him.

3. K Robbie Gould

K Robbie Gould Reinhold Matay USA TODAY Sports
After missing three field goals in the previous two games, Gould has converted all five of his field goal attempts over the last two weeks. His longevity as the Bears' kicker is noteworthy, but Gould is 34 years old with a cap hit over $4 million for 2016 and that makes him a potential offseason cut.

After missing three field goals in the previous two games, Gould has converted all five of his field goal attempts over the last two weeks. His longevity as the Bears' kicker is noteworthy, but Gould is 34 years old with a cap hit over $4 million for 2016 and that makes him a potential offseason cut.

2. QB David Fales

QB David Fales Dennis Wierzbicki USA TODAY Sports
The Bears don't seem very committed to Fales as their possible quarterback of the future, and they need to seriously think about who will take over when Jay Cutler is done. It should not be tough to cut Fales, and perhaps target a quarterback in the mid-to-late rounds of the 2016 draft.

The Bears don't seem very committed to Fales as their possible quarterback of the future, and they need to seriously think about who will take over when Jay Cutler is done. It should not be tough to cut Fales, and perhaps target a quarterback in the mid-to-late rounds of the 2016 draft.

1. OT Jermon Bushrod

OT Jermon Bushrod Mike Dinovo USA TODAY Sports
Bushrod made three starts at left tackle this year, before a concussion sidelined him and he never regained his starting job. He has two years left on his contract, but it's hard to justify paying a 32-year old reserve offensive lineman $6.4 million next season ($8.7 million salary cap hit). I'm piggy-backing on ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson by giving Bushrod the No. 1 spot on this list.

Bushrod made three starts at left tackle this year, before a concussion sidelined him and he never regained his starting job. He has two years left on his contract, but it's hard to justify paying a 32-year old reserve offensive lineman $6.4 million next season ($8.7 million salary cap hit). I'm piggy-backing on ESPN.com's Jeff Dickerson by giving Bushrod the No. 1 spot on this list.

Brad Berreman is a writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter and like him on Facebook.
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