Hoge & Jahns: a show about the Chicago Bears BEARS SALARY-CAP PLAN: What will Ryan Poles, Ben Johnson do? | Hoge & Jahns
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Feb 12, 2026 Pat Norton, CHGO Sports reporter and salary-cap analyst, breaks down the Bears' cap picture and why Tremaine Edmunds' exit may start the offseason. Short-term restructures, who can be cut or kept, and the tricky DJ Moore decision get clear explanations. Plus a look at timing Ryan Poles used to align contracts and who should get extensions to preserve the team’s two-year window.
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Start With Simple Restructures
- Use simple restructures first on high cap hits like D.J. Moore and Montez Sweat to free space.
- Prioritize unilateral restructures to create immediate cap room without player consent where possible.
Restructure Commits Future Choices
- Restructuring signals commitment and limits future outs; it makes players likelier to remain two more years.
- That creates tougher decisions when future QB money arrives, especially if adding another big contract.
D.J. Moore Is Hard To Move
- Cutting D.J. Moore is much harder than fans assume due to dead-cap and trade-timing issues.
- A post-June 1 trade could save ~ $24.5M but reduces immediate return and complicates timing.