Bears to Release Buster Skrine

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that the Bears will release cornerback Buster Skrine.

Skrine had signed a three year contract worth $16.5 million with the Bears in 2019. Skrine had $5 million remaining on the contract and was set to count for $6.03 million on the salary cap. Though this was the final year of his contract Skrine will count for $3.3 million in dead money unless the team uses a June 1 designation to try to defer $2.2 million of acceleration. The reason for this is that the Bears utilized two void years in the contract to make the cap hit more manageable in 2019.

I would say that the June 1 is very unlikely as the Bears are hoping to be active in free agency and the June 1 would force them to carry the $6.03 million cap number until June 1st. Using a regular cut allows them to free up $2.7 million immediately. The release should put the Bears right in line to be under the salary cap if it comes it at the low numbers agreed on by the NFL and NFLPA.

Expect the Bears to be somewhat active in player restructure and veteran releases over the coming days. They have big cap charges for Khalil Mack, Kyle Fuller, and Eddie Jackson that can definitely be brought down with some creative salary cap adjustments. Jimmy Graham and the Bears tackles could all be potential cuts.