The Chicago Bears are working with Martellus Bennett's agent to trade the tight end to an "agreeable landing spot," according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Bennett is set to enter the final year of a four-year, $20 million deal he signed back in 2013. He is set to make just over $5 million in 2016, the highest cap number of his career.
Bears working to trade TE Martellus Bennett to agreeable landing spot
Bennett had a down year after complaining about his contract in 2015.
Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Bennett went into the 2015 season upset about his contract, and wanted another deal. He skipped voluntary workouts, and though he returned for the regular season, there were still rumors that he was unhappy about his role in the offense. In early December, the Chicago Tribune reported that Bennett made a scene at practice over the way he was being used in the red zone. Not long after, the Bears put Bennett on season-ending injured reserve due to a rib injury.
Bennett sat out a total of five games in 2015 and caught just 53 passes for 439 yards and three touchdowns, numbers way down from his 2014 numbers. In 16 games, he caught a career-high 90 passes for 916 yards and six touchdowns in 2014, which led to a Pro Bowl nod and his contract holdout in training camp.
While any potential landing spot is purely speculation right now, Bennett posted an Instagram of him traveling to Seattle shortly after the news broke of him being shopped for a trade. Bennett’s brother, Michael Bennett, has spent the last three seasons with the Seahawks where he earned Pro Bowl honors in 2015.
Bennett previously played a season with the New York Giants, and spent four years with the Dallas Cowboys. He will be 29 years old when next season gets underway, but smart money is on another team thinking he's worth acquiring for another change of scenery.
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