The Bears and Kyle Long agreeing on a re-structured contract not only had the benefit of saving a little under $3 million in cap space, but it also meant the team’s starting offensive line will remain intact in 2019.
That’s the same offensive line that was one of the NFL’s better pass-protecting groups in 2018, allowing the NFL’s fewest pressures and second-fewest sacks, per Pro Football Focus. Keeping that continuity in front of Mitch Trubisky is important — he felt comfortable with his offensive line, and Matt Nagy trusted that group to keep his quarterback clean.
“We fully understand some of these bookend defensive ends that we’re going to be seeing here in the future and the direction of speed and talent that goes on on that front, so you better have those edges protected,” Nagy said.