The Chicago Bears' trade with Carolina that sent the Panthers the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft for the No. 9 and 61 picks this year, a 2024 first-round pick, a 2025 second-rounder, and wide receiver D.J. Moore will impact more than just the on-field production for the Bears in 2023. It also affects how much money they can spend in free agency.
With Moore's contract factored in, Chicago's spending power drops. That's the bad news. The good news? General manager Ryan Poles still has the most salary-cap space in the NFL by nearly $10 million.
Monday kicks off the two-day negotiation window for teams to agree to contract terms with unrestricted free agents. Deals aren't binding until they're signed at the start of the new league year (March 15 at 4 pm. EST.)