The Bears could emerge as favourites to land disgruntled 42$ million star from the Vikings
As the NFL Draft nears, the Minnesota Vikings confront several significant roster dilemmas, not least of which involves the fate of one of their standout defensive players.
In March, outside linebacker Za'Darius Smith requested to be released from his contract and later intensified the situation by posting a somewhat enigmatic tweet, hinting that his stint with the Vikings would conclude after a single season.
The Chicago Bears, an NFC North Division rival, emerge as a possible trade destination for Smith, having made multiple bold moves this offseason while still in need of one or two edge rushers.
With nearly $37.7 million in available salary cap space for 2023, the Bears are well-positioned to accommodate Smith's cap hit. Additionally, they possess a third-round pick (No. 64) and two fourth-round selections (No. 103 and No. 133) in the upcoming draft.
In terms of trade timing, it would be most advantageous for the Vikings to execute the deal before the draft, allowing them to leverage the return for immediate improvement.
Moreover, trading Smith before June 1 would save the Vikings $12.15 million in salary cap space, according to Over The Cap. Postponing the trade until after June 1 would only increase the savings to $13.8 million, an insufficient incentive to delay a potential third- or fourth-round pick for an entire year.
As Read on - Vikings Predicted to Trade $42 Million Star Before NFL Draft
| POLL | ||
3 AVRIL | 272 ANSWERS The Bears could emerge as favourites to land disgruntled 42$ million star from the Vikings Should Ryan Poles trade for Za'darius Smith? | ||
| Yes | 154 | 56.6 % |
| No | 118 | 43.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
