NFC Notes: Bears, Falcons, Saints

Bears

• According to CBS Sports analyst and former agent Joel Corry, Bears S Eddie Jackson‘s $1.05 million and $8.95 million 2020 and 2021 base salaries became fully guaranteed Wednesday. 
• Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune doesn’t see a reunion between the Bears and TE Greg Olsen happening, as Chicago already has $6.7 million committed to TE Trey Burton and will be looking for a long-term solution instead of a band-aid. 
• Biggs points out Bears LB Nick Kwiatkoski will likely be looking for a starting position and salary, which could complicate Chicago’s efforts to re-sign him. 
• Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline reports the Bears are expected to “make a good number of roster cuts” prior to free agency and then sign players to fill those holes. 

Falcons

• Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline reports Rams’ impending free-agent LB Dante Fowler “wants to play” for the Falcons. Pauline admits it’s going to cost a lot, but if the Falcons make him a “competitive offer,” he could end up in Atlanta. 
• Per D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Falcons could also consider either LSU DE K’Lavon Chaisson or Iowa DE A.J. Epenesa with their first-round pick at No. 16 to replace Vic Beasley.
• The Falcons named Ben Steele their new tight ends coach.

Saints

• Per the Athletic’s Katherine Terrell, Saints LT Terron Armstead is a strong candidate for a restructure if New Orleans needs to create more cap space in 2020. 
• Another potential avenue is extending CB Janoris Jenkins, who is set to count $11.2 million against the cap in the final year of his deal in 2020. 
• Terrell also mentions Saints LB Demario Davis as an extension candidate. 
• Terrell says the Saints are unlikely to make a significant financial investment in a free agent pass catcher but could consider someone like Eagles WR Nelson Agholor or Bengals TE Tyler Eifert. 
• Given New Orleans’ history with signing free agent linebackers, Terrell mentions Browns LB Joe Schobert and Rams LB Cory Littleton as options if the Saints rework their linebacking corps.
• Saints LB A.J. Klein is a free agent and LB Kiko Alonso is coming of a torn ACL late in 2019. Terrell adds there’s a decent chance New Orleans tries to keep Alonso at a reduced cap hit.