The Chicago Bears conducted interviews for their defensive coordinator position and swiftly made their choice. Head coach Matt Eberflus decided on Eric Washington, the current defensive line coach for the Buffalo Bills, who is highly regarded in the NFL for his expertise. This decision comes as no shock, as Washington has a solid reputation and history with the Bears, having worked under Lovie Smith for three years and possessing knowledge of Eberflus’ preferred Tampa-2 defensive style.
Undoubtedly, Washington will have an immediate impact on the development of young Bears defensive linemen such as Gervon Dexter and Zacch Pickens, and there is even potential for him to bring out the best in Dominique Robinson. Furthermore, come the off-season in March, there might be an added advantage as Washington has gained considerable respect from fellow players. A prime example is the highly sought-after free agent Brian Burns, a remarkable pass rusher for the Carolina Panthers, who Washington had the pleasure of coaching in 2019. Burns holds a deep admiration for his former coach.
The situation with Burns in Carolina is intriguing as both parties have failed to reach an agreement on a contract extension, and it seems that the defensive standout has no plans to reduce his asking price. As a result, the Panthers are left with only two choices: to use the franchise tag on him or allow him to depart. While the former may seem straightforward considering Carolina’s approximately $28 million in cap space, the issue lies in the cost of the tag for edge defenders this year, which exceeds $23 million. This hefty amount would consume a significant portion of their cap space, especially when considering that the Panthers lack a first-round pick, making it challenging to rebuild through the draft at the present moment.
Their best option may be to designate him and attempt to trade him to another team. Regrettably, other teams are aware that they probably won’t be able to retain him in the long run. Consequently, the likelihood of Burns becoming available for acquisition is higher than some assume. If he does become available, the Bears will have sufficient salary cap room to pursue him if they desire. The idea of teaming him up with Montez Sweat is quite appealing. Moreover, they now have the advantage of Eric Washington assisting them in recruiting him if the opportunity arises.
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