Top Budget-Friendly Bears Picks for the 2023 Season

Rookies, owing to their lower cost, often present potential bargains. But it's not until they step on the field and show their prowess that their true worth is known.

Each team boasts a couple of players who, despite being cost-effective, bring significant value. For the Bears, running back David Montgomery was one such player last year. He was not only their leading rusher among running backs but also their best pass-blocking back and a top receiver, all while still on his first contract. Based on the numbers from Spotrac.com, there are more such promising names on this year's roster.

So let's dive into the top Bears bargains for the 2023 season:

3. T Braxton Jones
Teams often spend their first-round picks to safeguard the blind side of a right-handed quarterback. The Bears, however, have a fifth-rounder filling this critical role. Jones, still in the second year of his contract, has proven his worth as a top-20 tackle on either side of the ball, according to Pro Football Focus. He's costing the Bears just $944,888, which is a mere 0.41% of their cap. Even Nsimba Webster, Daurice Fountain, Terrell Lewis, and Andrew Brown come at a higher cost than Jones, given they make the team.

2. RB Khalil Herbert
The jury's still out on whether Herbert can emulate David Montgomery's receiving skills, but he has already showcased his impressive running ability, boasting an NFL-best average of 5.7 yards per carry among running backs. With a catch rate of 82.1% (23 of 28), he seems poised to make a substantial contribution to the passing game. Yet, Herbert, a sixth-round pick, has a cap cost of only $972,677 this year, which accounts for a mere 0.42% of the overall Bears salary cap. He ranks 88th among NFL running backs and 657th among all NFL offensive players in this regard.

1. QB Justin Fields
Fields, now in his third season, counts for $5,146,897 against the Bears' cap. Although this is their ninth-highest cap hit, it equates to just 2.21% of their total salary cap, placing him at 169th in the NFL among offensive players and 27th among quarterbacks. For this price, the Bears get their leading rusher, the NFL's leader in yards per carry, their top passer, and overall team leader. If he were a kicker as well, it'd be a steal! Fields is also fourth on the Sports Illustrated list of 10 players who could define this NFL season - quite an accomplishment for a player costing just $5.1 million against the cap.

Justin Fields: the primary quarterback and the primary bargain for the Bears this season.