10 hours Ago By Conor Cunningham, On Tap Sports Net
The Chicago Bears have released veteran defensive end DeMarcus Walker, the team announced on Friday. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker will also be released by the #Bears . Combined with TE Gerald Everett, the two moves, which were not unexpected, create more than $10M in salary-cap space.
Walker spent just two seasons in Chicago, racking up seven sacks, 16 tackles for losses, and 77 total tackles. The eight-year veteran signed a 3 year, $21 million contract with Chicago in 2023, the fourth-highest contract Ryan Poles has given a free agent . In 2024, the Bears paid Walker roughly $2.
5 million per sack , which is questionable value, to say the least. Embarrassingly, Walker was not even the biggest overpay on the defensive line, with Montez Sweat earning over $4.5 million per sack .
The Florida State product was signed in 2023 following a seven-sack season in Tennessee, though it was never able to achieve the same type of production in Chicago. Walker was a solid contributor on the defensive line but did not develop into the gamebreaker some expected him to. With the arrival of Dennis Allen and a new defensive scheme, the move is not surprising.
The Bears will save $5 million in cap space. Earlier today, the Bears also released tight end Gerald Everett . The two moves will save the Bears a total of $10 million in cap space.
With free agency starting on March 10th, Walker will look to sign with his fifth team in his career. While no news is official, the Bears will likely look to sign an impact player opposite Montez Sweat to replace DeMarcus Walker. Could we see a Khalil Mack reunion in Chicago? Joey Bosa? Myles Garret? That remains to be seen.
This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission..
