The Bears face several pressing issues on their roster, with the offensive and defensive lines being the most significant concerns heading into the 2025 offseason. Addressing these areas will likely be the primary focus in free agency and the NFL Draft. However, another critical area for improvement is the kicking game.
Cairo Santos has been reliable in terms of accuracy, but his weaker leg and low trajectory on kicks are problematic. The bigger issue is his inability to be trusted for long-range field goals. For example, the decision not to attempt a 57-yard field goal on Thursday night against Seattle reflects a lack of confidence in his range. While Santos has been a dependable kicker, this limitation has cost the Bears opportunities throughout the season.
The Bears need a new kicker. You need to have a guy who can hit from 57 yards.
Cario Santos is a good dude. But it's time to move on.
— Dave (@dave_bfr) December 27, 2024
The Bears signed Santos to a four-year, $16 million contract extension with $9.5 million guaranteed. Financially, moving on from Santos is feasible: cutting him before June 1 would result in a $2.1 million cap hit, while a post-June 1 cut would save the Bears $1 million. A trade is another option, but finding a market for a kicker without a strong leg might be challenging.
While Santos’s accuracy is valuable, his inability to attempt longer field goals limits the Bears competitiveness. If the team wants to contend seriously in the future, they need a kicker capable of making high-pressure, long-distance kicks. Whether through competition, a trade, or a release, it might be time for the Bears to explore other options in the kicking game to gain every possible advantage in this unforgiving league.
