Where Ryan Poles' secret weapon left Bears in salary cap space

Feinstein's touch has helped them accomplish bringing in three higher priced free agents together and make trades for two higher priced players. And now the last touch on their cap spending situation is known, with the details reported for defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

The reason they've been able to afford these changes is the way they maneuvered the cap in Year 1, this season and Jarrett's contract is typical.

Jarrett's cap hit is only $7 million this year, which made it possible for the Bears to get in the signing and some others at about $10 million left in effective cap space. It includes $4 million in prorated signing bonus each of the three years on the deal, but only a guaranteed $2.25 million in salary this year.

Together, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo and Jarrett account for only $15 million in cap space this year.

Of course, the cap is going to get hit harder by it in the future then, and the $19 million cap hit in Year 2 is big.

The 2027 hit of $16.75 million is less ominous considering $11.75 million is in cash, so there is $12.75 million in cap savings with $4 million dead cap if he's released after two seasons.

The end result of this deal is Overthecap.com has posted the Bears at $10,526,963 for cap space, which ranks as the 26th most available. That's an effective cap space total, which means it includes the projected rookie class total in it.

That figure doesn't include a contract for tight end Durham Smythe, a new one for tight end Stephen Carlson and wide receiver acquisition Olamide Zaccheaus.