Chicago Bears cutting quarterback Mike Glennon
By Joe Romano
The Chicago Bears drafted their franchise quarterback a year ago. They’re now moving on from the free agent they signed the same year.
The Chicago Bears entered the offseason a year ago with questions at the quarterback position. Their former starer Jay Cutler was retiring and taking his talents to the broadcast booth. Meanwhile there was not a capable back-up on the team that could take over.
As soon as the 2017 league year kicked off Chicago went out and got their guy in a limited free agent market. Tampa Bay Buccaneers backup quarterback Mike Glennon was given a three-year $43.5 million deal.
A year later and the Bears announced they will be cutting Glennon once the 2018 year starts.
Ryan Pace confirms the #Bears will release Mike Glennon once the new league year starts.
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) February 28, 2018
As a starter for the first four games, Glennon led the team to a 1-3 record. During that span he had four touchdowns passes to seven turnovers and only 833 yards. In the fifth game the team turned to rookie quarterback Mitchell Trubisky. Trubisky was the second overall pick of the 2017 draft out of North Carolina. He is the quarterback of the futuer for this team.
According to Jeremy Bregman of NFL.com, this move did not come as a surprise.
"Plus, Glennon’s contract had a “2018 out” built into it. Glennon will walk from the Bears with only $18.5 million, which was guaranteed at signing. The release also frees up over $11 million in cap space this season and $14 million next year."
As a rookie in 12 games Trubisky flashed the potential that Chicago saw when they traded up one spot to grab him in the draft. With new head coach Matt Nagy on board, he will look to turn Trubisky into what Alex Smith showed a year ago in the same offense.
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Chicago is in the midst of a roster turnover outside of just Glennon. The team also announced they are cutting guard Josh Sitton, defensive lineman Willie Young, safety Quinten Demps and linebacker Pernell McPhee. The team can now build around Trubisky with over $25 million of cap space opened up by those moves.