Ryan Pace loves a late-preseason extension, and the Bears have the 9th-most cap space in the NFL. Is something up?

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It's not particularly news, but SI's Albert Breer tweeted something out this morning that deserves a second look: 

You're right! That *IS* the Bears listed as the team with the 9th-most cap space headed into the '19-'20 season.

Based on Pace's history of cap wizardry, and the fact that the Bears just converted Charles Leno's salary into a signing bonus, this shouldn't come as much of a shock. It is notable, though, and for a few reasons! Here are those few notable reasons: 

  • Ryan Pace loves himself an end-of-preseason extension. Eddie Goldman got a four-year extension last preseason, and Akiem Hicks the one before. The leader in the clubhouse for 2019 is starting guard Cody Whitehair, who's currently in the last season of his four-year rookie contract ($4.2 million). 
  • Keep an eye on Danny Trevathan, who's deserving of one last, good contract and is beloved inside Halas Hall. 
  • Should the Bears not be happy with their kicker, inside linebacker, or offensive tackle depth, there's some money to do something about it. (Seems unlikely, but so did the Khalil Mack trade.) 
  • This Bears team, as currently constructed, isn't going to get any cheaper. Of course it all won't carry over, but smartly freeing up space to get his guys signed should get Ryan Pace commended. Eddie Jackson and Mitch Trubisky are going to want big contracts, and almost all the team's line depth – on both sides of the ball – comes off the books this winter. Soon enough, the Bears are going to need Pace's cap prowess more than ever. 
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