Bears Haven’t Offered RB Matt Forte A New Contract

Bears RB Matt Forte mentioned during an appearence on NFL Total Access, that he would like to remain in Chicago, but he’s prepared to “move on” if necessary.

“There’s nothing I can do, really, except play football,” Forte said, via NFL.com. “The decision on whether I stay or whether I go is not really up to me. It’s whether I get offered a contract extension, which I haven’t been offered one and doesn’t really look like it (will happen).

“If not, I go into free agency. So I’m pretty much satisfied with either way it goes.”

The Bears wound up drafting Jeremy Langford a few months ago, and the rookie has proven to be a capable option in Forte’s absence.

With a new regime in the process of building their preferred roster, it would be surprising to see them let Forte test the open market before considering the idea of bringing him back on a new contract.

Forte, 29, is in the final year of his four-year, $30.4 million contract that included $13.8 million guaranteed. He’ll make a base salary of $6.65 million before testing the open market next year.

This season, eight games and ran fo 592 yards on 151 carries (3.9 YPC) to go along with 26 receptions for 228 yards receivinng and three total touchdowns for the Bears. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 55 running back out of 69 qualifying players.

We have Forte listed as the No. 16 free agent in our Top 25 – 2016 NFL Free Agents list.