NFC Notes: Bears, Kaepernick, Cardinals

Rival clubs are “baffled” by some of the Bears‘ free agent signings, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Specifically, Chicago’s decisions to bring in Mike Glennon ($15MM per year), Prince Amukamara ($7.5MM), and Markus Wheaton (two years, $11MM) “raised some eyebrows,” per La Canfora. While the Bears did unsuccessfully target other free agents such as A.J. Bouye, the club made other surprisingly large commitments to cornerback Marcus Cooper and tight end Dion Sims.

Here’s more from the NFC:

  • While a strategy is in place to market quarterback Colin Kaepernick to the “right” team, NFL clubs are pessimistic Kaepernick will be able to land a “decent” deal, per La Canfora. Kaepernick, 29, opted out of the final year of his 49ers contract, and San Francisco likely would have released him had he not made that decision. Having said that he’ll stand for the national anthem in 2017, Kaepernick ranked as PFR’s No. 6 free agent quarterback heading into the free agent period.
  • After agreeing to a new deal with the Cardinals, Andre Ellington may be playing more wide receiver than running back in 2017, per Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (Twitter link). Ellington will spend time at both positions, according to Somers, but Arizona wants to see what the 28-year-old can do at wideout. While he posted 85 receptions during his first two years in the league, Ellington has only managed 27 catches from 2015-16.
  • Frostee Rucker may follow Ellington in re-signing with the Cardinals, as Somers tweets he “wouldn’t be surprised” if Rucker is the next player to land a new contract with Arizona. Rucker, 33, appeared in 13 games (one start) with the Cards in 2016, posting 13 tackles and grading as the league’s No. 96 interior player among 127 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. Rucker earned nearly $1.4MM last year under the terms of an extension he agreed to in 2015.
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