Bears make long-term commitment to kicker, which feels like a doink

The Chicago Bears have made quite the move and signed veteran kicker Cairo Santos to a big five-year extension. 

On Thursday, the big news Chicago Bears fans everywhere had been waiting for arrived. Chicago has agreed to a new five-year contract with veteran kicker Cairo Santos that will pay him $16 million. Oh, you thought we were talking about a Russell Wilson trade?

Unfortunately for Bears nation, that’s not said news. While that may be a bummer for countless folks, you better believe Santos is absolutely fired up right now over his new deal.

The Chicago Bears’ first splash of the offseason isn’t what fans were hoping for

While Santos is coming off a strong year for Chicago and has solved their kicking woes, signing him to a five-year deal and paying him so much money really doesn’t feel like the best of moves.

Last season, the veteran kicker went 30-of-32 on his field-goal attempts, highlighted by drilling a 55-yarder. He was also 36-of-37 on his PAT tries. As you can see from those stats, Santos surely was a stud in the kicking game for the organization and provided the fans with plenty of relief time and time again when his boots resulted in the pigskin making its way through the uprights. Yet, is signing a kicker to any contract over two years a good decision? Kickers tend to be a flaky bunch.

Looking ahead to future seasons, Santos will look to keep his great percentage rocking, while bringing smiles to the faces of everyone packing Solder Field. Still, as good as he is, we may look back in a couple years and question the Bears for this move.