Bears salary cap breakdown ahead of training camp

The Chicago Bears are in the midst of their pre-training camp break, which offers general manager Ryan Poles an excellent opportunity to explore adding veteran contributors to the roster and improving some of its weaknesses. Poles has largely focused on improving the team through the 2024 draft after selecting quarterback Caleb Williams (No. 1) and wide receiver Rome Odunze (No. 9) with two top-10 picks.

The Bears are in excellent shape to navigate the free-agent market ahead of training camp. Poles currently possesses $21.5 million in available cap space, according to Over The Cap. That ranks 14th in the league, per their charting.

The Bears have needs in the trenches, both offensively and defensively. Signing an available center like Connor Williams may help complete the offensive line transformation in front of Williams. Veteran pass-rush help is still available via the likes of Carl Lawson, Tyus Bowser, Emmanuel Ogbah, and others.

As we wait to see if the Bears make any moves from now until the start of training camp, here’s a breakdown of the team’s five biggest cap hits.

MONTEZ SWEAT | DE | $25 MILLION

KEENAN ALLEN| WR | $23.1 MILLION

TREMAINE EDMUNDS | LB | $22.4 MILLION

D.J. MOORE | WR | $16 MILLION

JAYLON JOHNSON | CB | $13 MILLION

The Bears have a significant amount of money tied up in wide receiver with Moore and Allen combining for a cap hit larger than $39 million. That’s precisely why it was imperative to get an ascending wideout like Odunze on the roster via a four-year rookie contract. All moves point to building an explosive offense around Williams.