NFL Rumors: Chicago Bears trying to trade Julius Peppers
Chicago Bears defensive end Julius Peppers cashed in on free agency in 2010, but on the eve of the 2014 free agency period beginning, Peppers could be on his way out of town as Adam Schefter reports the team is trying to trade the veteran.
Bears calling around the league, seeing if they can find a trade partner for DE Julius Peppers, per sources. Trade unlikely...
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2014
The trade attempt is a precursor to Peppers being released by the club who had pursued Michael Bennett prior to his resigning with the Seattle Seahawks and could be interested in Michael Johnson.
Peppers has long been mentioned as a possible cap casualty even dating back to the start of the 2013 season when he restructured his deal which brought his cap figure to more than $18 million this season.
According to NFL trade rumors, “Peppers is scheduled to make $13.9 million for the 2014 season with another $16.5 million coming his way in 2015. Pepper currently has a huge cap figure of $18.183 million, which is extremely high, especially for someone who doesn’t play quarterback.”
Releasing Peppers would create close to $9.8 million in cap space for the Bears this season, while restructuring his contract could free up $6.47 million, according to Overthecap.com. Another restructuring seems remote at this point for Peppers who had 7.5 sacks and 46 tackles in 2013.
That type of production is not enough for a player with that much money coming his way, so it looks like Peppers will be the latest Bears player to hit the streets in the last week joining Devin Hester and potentially Charles Tillman and Henry Melton.