INDIANAPOLIS — The possibility that has turned into a probability — the Chicago Bears trading the No. 1 draft pick — is generating buzz at the scouting combine.
General manager Ryan Poles noted Tuesday that an agreement for a deal before the new league year starts March 15 would help streamline some of the organization’s goals. It seems unlikely something would be finalized this week, but deal or no deal, free agency is arriving quickly with the open window for negotiating just 13 days away.
The Bears are the runaway leader in available salary-cap space at $98 million, according to spotrac.com, and that opens a world of options that weren’t available to Poles a year ago when he started the franchise reboot.
