The trade rumors just keep coming for the Chicago Bears with the draft just hours away. After coaching and general manager changes in the offseason, most assumed big roster moves were also in the works. That proved true when the Bears opted to deal Brandon Marshall to the New York Jets at the start of free agency. Now everyone from Jay Cutler and Matt Forte to Martellus Bennett are considered available for the right deal.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Chicago Bears have made Bennett available for trades heading into the draft. Schefter reported that the Bears originally tried to trade Bennett to the Seattle Seahawks before they acquired Jimmy Graham from the New Orleans Saints. Now, the trade talk has surfaced once again as the Bears eye draft picks for the 28-year-old.
Bennett is currently not participating in voluntary minicamps for the Bears. The Chicago Sun-Times has speculated there are contract issues for Bennett who currently has two years remaining on his deal while being owed $4.9 million in base salary in 2015. Bennett signed a new contract in 2013 and the Bears simply cannot make moves to offer him an extension. The tight end has certainly been a true offensive threat for the team. He is coming off a career-high year with 1,038 yards and six touchdowns while getting Pro Bowl nods. If truly available, there will be a lot of interest in his talent.
The Bennett trade comes after rumors of deals for both Matt Forte and Jay Cutler. Forte is currently entering the final year of his contract and given his age the Bears are not looking to give him a lengthy extension next season. That means Chicago could lose their star running back for nothing in return which has the team thinking a trade might be the best option. Forte is also holding out of voluntary workouts, but has taken to Twitter to say it is not because he is unhappy with the Bears and his status with the team.
The Chicago Tribune is making it clear the Bears are not trading Cutler. The team has been linked to Marcus Mariota in the draft and reportedly went as far as to offer Cutler to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for the No. 2 pick. Those discussions went nowhere and Cutler will now enter 2015 as the starting quarterback for the team.
Instead, the Bears are likely to stay put at the No. 7 pick and draft from there. ESPN's Todd McShay believes Kevin White will land in the team's lap. Chicago is looking for a replacement of Marshall to pair with Alshon Jeffery and the newly signed Eddie Royal. White would be a solid option. At that chance the former West Virginia star is already taken, DeVante Parker or Breshad Perriman would be the next-best options for the Bears.