With a Friday deadline looming, the Chicago Bears have made an important roster decision, picking up the fifth-year contract option for linebacker Leonard Floyd.
Floyd, who was the Bears’ first round draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, had a bounce-back season in 2018, starting all 16 games and registering four sacks and a career high 47 tackles in those contests. He also had 11 quarterback hits, his first career interception, and four defended passes for the Bears.
ESPN's Field Yates was the first to report that the Bears had decided to pick up Floyd's option for the 2020 season.
2019 Chicago Bears Transaction Tracker
There were questions whether the Bears would pick up Floyd’s option, as they have generally been cautious with those types of contracts in the past. The team declined to pick up wide receiver Kevin White’s option this season, leaving him to become a free agent. They also decided not to pick up cornerback Kyle Fuller’s fifth year option, and were forced to match an offer sheet given to the defensive back by the Green Bay Packers before the 2018 season.
Now, Floyd will be locked in for a salary of around $13 million for the 2020 season, unless the Bears can reach terms on a contract extension with him before that date.
