NFL just surprised Bears 2024 starter with a huge bonus and the front office should consider rewarding him even more in free agency
In the NFL, there's plenty of ways to make some serious cash. One of the most underrated league incentives is the performance-based payouts, which rewards players with a bonus who had a high snap count and a low salary.On Wednesday, the league announced the Top-25 performance-based pay earners, and one of the Chicago Bears 2024 […]
In the NFL, there's plenty of ways to make some serious cash. One of the most underrated league incentives is the performance-based payouts, which rewards players with a bonus who had a high snap count and a low salary.
On Wednesday, the league announced the Top-25 performance-based pay earners, and one of the Chicago Bears 2024 starters managed to crack the Top-5 on the list.
Matt Pryor, the Bears starting right guard (and fill in right tackle), earned $1,020,303 based on his performance during his lone season in Chicago. Pryor signed with the Bears last offseason on a one-year, $1,175,000 contract. Meaning his performance-based bonus was nearly more than his entire 2024 salary.
Pryor was a solid find by the Bears' front office. Early in the season, he won the starting job at right guard after Nate Davis and Ryan Bates each dealt with separate injuries and never looked back. In Week 10 against the New England Patriots, Pryor moved over to right tackle after Darnell Wright was out due to injury.
By the end of the season, Pryor logged 1,005 total snaps for the Bears on the offensive line, appearing in all 17 games while making 15 starts. Pryor's 2024 season was filled with a mix of highs and lows. While he was credited with seven sacks and 24 pressures allowed, he also had the 5th-highest pass blocking grade among guards who played 150+ pass blocking snaps.
Needless to say, he was serviceable at best but more than lived up to his price tag considering the deal he signed. And I feel like the Bears should reward him even more.
Bears Should Consider Re-Signing Matt Pryor
Since he was on a one-year deal with the Bears in 2024, Pryor is now back on the free agent market. The tackle and guard market each dried up pretty quickly, but there's still some solid names out there and Pryor is one of them.
If no other team opts to bring in Pryor and offer a starting job, the Bears should really consider bringing him back as a depth piece. After trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, the Bears already have their new starters at guard, and of course have Wright still locked in at right tackle.
But the Bears could use a solid backup tackle and there's added value in Pryor considering he has the ability to play RG and RT plus has experience protecting Caleb Williams. Seeing him back on another one-year deal with a potential pay raise would be great to see announced in the coming days.
