The Chicago Bears parted ways with tight end Trey Burton mostly due to injuries, per general manager Ryan Pace.
Pace suggested the organization felt Burton was unlikely to recover from his injury history and showcase the promise they once believed he had when they signed him as a free agent in 2018.
Pace also added the Bears would be considering adding a tight end in the 2020 NFL Draft given the depth of talent at the position (via Josh Alper of Pro Football Talk):
“As we took a full evaluation of our roster after free agency and factored everything in, that was the best decision for us,” Pace said, via the Chicago Sun-Times. “He had a good first year for us, but unfortunately for him and for us, the injuries kind of added up.”
Pace said that picking a tight end in the draft is a possibility and that he thinks “it’s a good tight end draft.” That’s not the general consensus of this year’s group, but the makeup of the Bears’ group may help color their assessment of who could help them in 2020.
The decision to release Burton was far from cheap. Although Chicago designated him as a post-June 1st cut, Burton will still cost them nearly $6 million in dead cap money in 2020.
Chicago signed Burton to a four-year, $32 million contract in 2018. He had a decent debut season in Chicago, but had just 14 receptions for 84 yards in eight games last season; Burton was also consistently hampered by physical setbacks.
The Bears signed Jimmy Graham in free agency, and he figures to be the starter in Chicago. However, they might also inquire about Tamp Bay Buccaneers tight end O.J. Howard, after the Bucs acquired Rob Gronkowski yesterday.
Indeed, Chicago's tight end situation appears very fluid.
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