Do you think you can build out the perfect Chicago Bears roster? Now, you can prove it and show it off for everyone to see. Just open the Google Docs link below, save the workbook onto your device, and get a head start on your prep for that GM job!
I've added screenshots below for guidance. The rules are simple. Any section highlighted in yellow allows you to select a choice from a drop-down box or type in free form. Additionally, a video tutorial can be found in the YouTube video below.
Step 1: Choose Who to Cut from the Bears Roster
The first step in any Bears offseason is establishing the foundation for your roster and salary cap space. This section is where you can do just that. Want to trade Cairo Santos for the No. 2 overall pick? Go for it! But let’s keep things realistic. The screenshots below provide a quick example from previous years. There’s no need to analyze what I did here since I was mainly testing the model and setting up straightforward examples.
The sections highlighted in yellow are the areas you should edit in the document. Each place that is yellow in the sheet features either a drop-down box that you can choose from or a free cell that you can type in. The options under the “Status” column are “Cut Pre-6/1,” “Cut Post 6/1,” “Trade Pre 6/1,” and “Trade Post 6/1." Each option will generate the resulting salary cap implications for you. All cap data was pulled from OverTheCap.com.
If you choose to trade away picks, you can track that using the "Trading Draft Picks?" table. Additionally, I added a new feature last year for "Trade Write-In" players. If you were to trade draft picks (or players) for a player on another team, you denote which players or picks have been traded in the drop-down boxes, write the new player's name in one of the cells that says "TRADE WRITE IN," then you go pull their contract info from OverTheCap.com. Don't forget to go to the new player's drop-down box and change it from N/A to ACTIVE!
Step 2: Add Free Agents and Rookies to the Bears Roster
On the left side of the spreadsheet, you will choose the free agents you would like to sign. Their Year 1 cap hits are determined by how long their projected contracts run. Their Year 1 cap hit in a two-year deal will be 95% of the contract AAV. If it's a three-year deal, the Year 1 cap hit will be 90% of the contract AAV. And so on. If you want to backload the contract further, you can do so.
Additionally, you can review available free agents under the “FREE AGENTS” tab. Here, you can see each free agent, their projected contract, and the source or comp used to determine it. If you choose, you can adjust the contract metrics yourself.
I should note that any projections I obtained from PFF have been redacted in the document, only showing a Year 1 cap hit that I projected using my own formula. PFF does outstanding work and doesn't deserve to have it handed out without the clicks and subscriptions required to access it. Check out their projections for yourself.
Other free-agent contracts were also based on estimated player values found at OverTheCap.com. Within the premium features on that website, they provide an "estimated value" for every player in the NFL. Jason Fitzgerald deserves a major shoutout for his work with that website. Check out his work and give him a follow on X/Twitter as well.
You can also run a mock draft before or after selecting free agents. The Building The Board home page might be helpful in completing mock drafts. I've included links to two different mock draft simulators in the top right corner of the "FA + Draft" tab. Once you complete the draft, fill in the draft columns and write who your picks were. Aside from draft picks, the rest of the table on the right will auto-fill as you make your free-agent signings on the left.
A quick tip for mock drafts: if you choose to trade up or down in the draft, you can go back to the “Cuts and Trades” tab and input those picks you traded for into the draft trade table. This will allow you to include the cap hit with those draft picks you acquired.
The goal is to reach 53 players on the roster without going over the salary cap. If you go over the cap, the “SUPER BEARS SUPER BOWL” graphic will change colors and have a quick message for you to try again.
Step 3: Build Your Depth Chart
Drop-down boxes of your rostered players, free-agent signings, and draft picks (i.e. pick X rather than the player you selected) are available on this page for you to fill in the depth chart. Each player's 2024 PFF grade will autofill into the chart and give you a verdict on the offense, defense, and team average PFF grades.
Enjoy, and nail down the Chicago Bears roster so the Ryan Poles don't have to! SUPER BEARS, SUPER BOWL!
