In his second offseason with the Chicago Bears, normal supervisor Ryan Poles has loads of salary-cap house to remodel a roster that completed 3-14 in 2022.
As the NFL’s new league yr approaches, permitting free brokers to start signing with new groups, the Tribune will monitor the entire Bears’ arrivals and departures and supply perception into what they imply.
The free-agency negotiation window opened throughout the league at 11 a.m. Monday. Unrestricted free brokers can finalize offers when the brand new league yr begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday.
Monday
The Bears are signing former Tennessee Titans defensive finish DeMarcus Walker, a league supply confirmed.
What it means: Walker, 28, is a six-year NFL veteran coming off a profession season with the Titans wherein he had seven sacks, 16 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for a loss in 17 video games. He was a second-round decide by the Denver Broncos in 2017 and performed in 36 video games for them with 5 begins, notching 10½ sacks over 4 seasons. He had two sacks in 13 video games with the Houston Texans in 2021.
Walker’s deal is for 3 years and $21 million with $16 million assured, a league supply mentioned.
The Bears have been in determined want of assist at defensive finish after totaling simply 20 sacks in 2022. Poles traded Khalil Mack final offseason and Robert Quinn at midseason and launched Al-Quadin Muhammad final month, leaving restricted choices on the place. Walker joins a gaggle that features Trevis Gipson and Dominique Robinson.
Inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is becoming a member of the Bears on a four-year, $72 million deal, a supply confirmed.
What it means: The Bears secured one other playmaker for a protection in want of them and have assured Edmunds $50 million on a four-year contract settlement. The signing is notable after the group hit an deadlock final fall in its negotiations with linebacker Roquan Smith. Smith was traded to the Baltimore Ravens for a second-round decide and later signed an extension in Baltimore for 5 years, $100 million with $60 million assured.
Edmunds successfully slots in as Smith’s substitute and is the second starting-caliber linebacker the Bears have added in free company after they earlier agreed to a three-year contract with T.J. Edwards.
Edmunds, the No. 16 general decide within the 2018 draft by the Buffalo Bills, has made 74 profession begins and gained’t flip 25 till May. Last season, he had 102 tackles, a sack and an interception. His manufacturing was inconsistent over his 5 seasons with the Bills. But when he was at his finest, he showcased spectacular athleticism and really feel. The Bills have been within the combine to re-sign Edmunds and coach Sean McDermott sang his praises.
“To watch him mature and grow on the field and off the field has been a true joy as a coach,” McDermott mentioned on the NFL mix two weeks in the past.
The Bears, although, pushed to make Edmunds a big-ticket signing within the first wave of free company and can welcome the linebacker into Matt Eberflus’ system.
The Bears are signing former Tennessee Titans guard Nate Davis to a three-year deal, a supply confirmed.
What it means: Davis’ deal is for $30 million over three seasons with $19.25 million assured.
Davis, 26, began 54 video games over 4 seasons with the Titans, who drafted him within the third spherical out of Charlotte in 2019. He missed eight video games over the past two seasons with COVID-19 and accidents, together with ending the 2022 season on injured reserve due to an ankle damage.
The Bears have been slated to have left guard Cody Whitehair and proper guard Teven Jenkins return this season, so it is going to be value watching to see how the addition of Davis impacts these roles. Jenkins discovered some success in his transition from deal with to proper guard in 2022, however he battled accidents all year long and began simply 11 video games. Davis performed proper guard in Tennessee.
The Bears are signing former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker T.J. Edwards, a supply mentioned.
What it means: Edwards, who went to Lakes High School in Lake Villa and Wisconsin, returns house to the Chicago space. An undrafted rookie in 2019, Edwards went on to begin 47 video games and play in 61 for the Eagles over 4 seasons. He had a career-high 159 tackles, 10 tackles for a loss, seven passes defended, 5 quarterback hits and two sacks in 2022.
The Bears are signing Edwards to a three-year, $19.5 million contract with $12 million assured. After buying and selling linebacker Roquan Smith midseason in 2022, the Bears had a giant want for a playmaker on the place. They additionally return linebacker Jack Sanborn, who additionally performed at Wisconsin. Edwards performed center linebacker in Philadelphia, and he possible would play at that place in Chicago too, although the Bears might additionally attempt him on the Will place.
Edwards performed for an Eagles protection that ranked among the many finest within the NFL with simply 243.7 yards allowed per recreation, a unit that fueled the crew’s run to the Super Bowl. Edwards had six tackles and a go defended within the Super Bowl loss to the Kansas City Chiefs.
Friday
Cornerback Josh Blackwell and defensive lineman Andrew Brown are returning, the Bears introduced.
What it means: The Bears tendered one-year contracts to Blackwell and Brown, who have been exclusive-rights free brokers.
Blackwell, an undrafted rookie out of Duke, was a key particular groups participant in 2022. He had 23 tackles, a compelled fumble and a fumble restoration. He noticed time on protection in 4 video games late within the season when accidents depleted the Bears secondary.
Brown joined the Bears in November off the Arizona Cardinals follow squad and performed in 5 video games. He has appeared in 28 video games over the past 4 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Los Angeles Chargers and Bears.
Long snapper Patrick Scales is returning to the Bears, his agent tweeted.
What it means: Scales, 35, has been with the Bears since 2015 and hasn’t missed a recreation within the final 5 seasons. He returns with a specialist unit that features kicker Cairo Santos and punter Trenton Gill.
Scales is the longest-tenured Bears participant on a roster that Poles has largely turned over.
Wednesday
The Bears are bringing again veteran fullback Khari Blasingame on a two-year extension, in accordance with his company.
What it means: Blasingame joined the Bears on a one-year deal final season. And whereas he didn’t obtain an offensive contact, he stays well-regarded inside Halas Hall for his intelligence, work ethic and toughness.
As a blocker, Blasingame contributed to a Bears offense that averaged a league-best 177.3 speeding yards per recreation whereas setting a single-season franchise document with 3,014 speeding yards. It will probably be fascinating to see how his function evolves or expands in 2023 as coordinator Luke Getsy continues to mould the scheme across the gamers he has.
The Bears have important work to do to stabilize their offense and should work by means of their plans within the backfield with David Montgomery in line to hit the open market subsequent week. But Blasingame’s return was a precedence. The veteran fullback spent his first three seasons in Tennessee and can look to carve out an even bigger function with the Bears this season.
Feb. 17
The Bears are releasing defensive finish Al-Quadin Muhammad, ESPN reported.
What it means: Muhammad signed a two-year, $8 million contract final spring to affix coach Matt Eberflus in Chicago. Muhammad, who’s getting into his seventh NFL season, was coming off a profession yr with the Indianapolis Colts in 2021 wherein he had six sacks and 13 quarterback hits. But he totaled simply 21 tackles, one sack, three quarterback hits and a compelled fumble in 16 video games with the Bears final season.
The Bears have been anticipated to revamp a defensive position that contributed to only 20 crew sacks. Cutting Muhammad, who will probably be 28 in March, saves almost $4 million in salary-cap house and comes with simply $500,000 in lifeless cap house, in accordance with Spotrac.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com
