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Luther Burden III had the next to last guaranteed contract in the early second-round run of such deals. Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

Bears emerge from signings with a few bucks still in the cap wallet

Originally posted on Chicago Bears on SI
By Gene Chamberlain | Last updated Jul 20, 2025 1:03 AM ET

The finances of the rookie Bears signings are done after the Luther Burden contract went into the books, and GM Ryan Poles still has money to add a player or two heading into training camp.

It's not a lot of money, but could suffice.

Burden's cap hit of $1.993 million for this year leaves the Bears with $13.8 million in cap space based on the top 51 contracts, according to Spotrac.com.

Ozzy Trapilo's cap hit is $1.4 million and Shemar Turner's $1.31 million. Burden's deal has cap hits of $2.491 million in the second year, 2.990 million in the third year and $3.488 million the final year.

Teams do need a chunk of cash for operating expenses during the season—signing someone in case of injuries. That given, a player off the scrap heap of unsigned edge rushers or running backs could still be a Bears target, although they'd be talking about someone cheap and likely for only this year.

DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden III will be the best WR trio in the league #Bears pic.twitter.com/Xj0Asfzx52
— Kev (@2KEVlN) July 20, 2025

The problem the Bears have is too many other teams have plenty of cash to try and land the edge rushers, running backs or even safeties who might be of interest. For example, Spotrac reports Detroit's cap space available at $51 million and the Packers at $35.1 million. Either of them could use another edge rusher.

As for Burden's signing, the Bears merely provided the next to last link in the chain of Round 2 guaranteed contracts.

Saints QB Tyler Shough will receive a fully guaranteed contract, coming off Burden signing in CHI. The league is in the middle of a collusion debacle and much of it was about QB salaries being suppressed and celebrated. Saints quit while ahead after Carr “retirement.”
— Gregory Gibson Jr. (@GregoryGibsonJr) July 19, 2025

Shortly after the signing by the Bears of 39th pick Colston Loveland III, Saints quarterback Tyler Shough got his fully guaranteed contract. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, Shough got something on his deal that neither Burden nor others in Round 2 got. It's a roster bonus clause, a first for a player outside Round 1 according to Schefter.

The run of fully guaranteed deals then ended with Shough as Buffalo's 41st overall defensive tackle T.J. Sanders signed a four-year deal with $10.03 million of $10.645 million guaranteed.

NFL 2nd Round Notables who signed, list:

Burden 4 yr $10.965 mil
Higgins 4, $11.7
Schwesinger 4, $11.8
Emmanwori 4, $11.6
Savaiinaea, 4 yr guaranteed
TreVeyon, 4 yr guaranteed
M Taylor, 4 yr $10.46
Collins 4 yr $10.3
Ezeiruaku 4, $10.1
Tuimoloau 4 yrs
pic.twitter.com/P6zNs8xUhI
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) July 19, 2025

All the deals after this are partial guarantees.

New England gave TreVeyon Henderson a fully guaranteed deal at No. 38 and Miami did the same with Jonah Savaiinaea at No 37, just ahead of Burden.

BREAKING: The Patriots are signing No. 38 pick RB TreVeyon Henderson to a fully guaranteed 4-year/$11.1M contract✍️ pic.twitter.com/YN0BRdBAIL
— Football Forever (@fballforeverhq) July 18, 2025

The only player without a guaranteed deal in the run of guaranteed contracts from No. 33 through No. 40 that included Burden is Cleveland running back Quinshon Judkins at No. 36. He is unsigned. The Browns still must sort through that situation with the charges pending against Judkins.

The Bears report to camp on Tuesday with only their injured players as a major immediate concern now that their financial issues have been addressed.