Bears waive veteran cornerback Porter
The Bears Monday waived nine-year veteran Tracy Porter, who was their best cornerback in his two seasons with the team.
But Porter carried a $4.05 million salary cap number for 2017, including a base salary of $3.5 million, which the Bears will save.
In addition to his salary, Porter became expendable when the Bears signed cornerbacks Prince Amukamara and Marcus Cooper last month in free agency.
Amukamara and Cooper are projected as the new starters.
The Bears were also encouraged last year by the performance of undrafted rookie Cre'Von LeBlanc and second-year player Bryce Callahan, who was also undrafted.
In addition, this year's draft is widely regarded as one of the best in recent years.
Porter, who will be 31 before the start of the 2017 season, had 2 interceptions last season, which tied for the team lead with LeBlanc. It was just the second time in his career that Porter managed to play all 16 games, although he battled a nagging knee injury that limited his effectiveness in some late-season contests.
Porter and LeBlanc also tied for the team lead with 13 pass breakups. Porter played in 87.8 percent of the Bears' defensive plays, tops among Bears cornerbacks, and he was ninth on the team with 48 tackles.
Porter has 88 career starts with five NFL teams, beginning with New Orleans, which drafted him in the second round (40th overall) out of Indiana in 2008. The following year with the Saints, Porter had 4 of his 13 career interceptions.
Porter originally signed a one-year, make-good deal with the Bears as a free agent before the 2015 season for just $870,000. After that season, he re-signed with the Bears for three years and $12 million, including $4.25 million guaranteed, most of which was paid last year.