Bears 2024 free agency tracker: Offseason moves, signings
NFL free agency is off and running, and we're keeping track of every major signing, trade and release of the 2024 offseason, with analysis from our NFL Nation reporters and grades from our experts. The new league year began Wednesday, which means free agent signings can be made official after that. The first round of the 2024 NFL draft begins April 25 on ESPN.
Here's a breakdown of every 2024 NFL free agent signing by theChicago Bearsand how each will impact the upcoming season:
D'Andre Swift, RB
Swift agreed to a 3-year, $24.5 million deal, including $15.3 million guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
What it means: The first deal Chicago struck when the negotiating window opened may be a bit of a surprise, but the team was always expected to bolster its backfield this offseason. Swift, 25, played a career-high 16 games last season while notching his first 1,000-yard rushing campaign. He ranked just outside the top 10 in yards per carry (4.6) and set a career high in rushing attempts (229) on his way to his first Pro Bowl bid. New offensive coordinator Shane Waldron leaned heavily on one back -- Kenneth Walker III -- to carry the rushing load in Seattle last season, so how the Bears divvy up responsibilities (early downs, third down, in pass protection, catching passes) in their backfield with Swift, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson will be a storyline to watch beginning in OTAs.
What's the risk: That's a considerable amount of money to commit to a running back with so many other needs on the roster, but GM Ryan Poles has not shied away from trying to pay running backs. David Montgomery opted for a fresh start in Detroit in 2023 instead of taking a deal from Chicago similar to the 3-year, $18 million contract he signed as a free agent last March. But it's early, and the Bears entered free agency with more than $60 million in salary cap space to work with. Given the other running back deals that were agreed to Monday (Tony Pollard going to the Titans on a 3-year, $24 million contract), the Bears appear to be paying what the market is demanding for free agent rushers.
Jaylon Johnson, CB
The Bears signed Johnson to a four-year deal worth $76 million ($54.4 million guaranteed), per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
What it means: The franchise tag appears to have truly been a placeholder while the Bears worked out a multiyear deal with their second-team All-Pro cornerback. General manager Ryan Poles said at the combine that the deal offered to Johnson contained "strong" cash flows and guarantees, which is reflected in 71.6% of Johnson's contract being guaranteed. There is $43.8 million fully guaranteed, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, and that ranks second among all cornerbacks.
The Bears accomplished their goal of signing another cornerstone of their defense to a long-term deal and avoided dragging this out over the next 4.5 months by agreeing to a deal two days after the franchise tag window closed. Johnson took on the challenge of being a "ball guy," according to coach Matt Eberflus, and was rewarded for his efforts after leading the team with four interceptions (including a pick-six), 10 passes defended, one forced fumble and 36 tackles. After earning his first Pro Bowl honors, Johnson said he couldn't see himself playing anywhere other than Chicago, and for now, that's not a vision he has to entertain.
What's the risk: Johnson bet on himself and won after playing out the final year of his rookie contract and not signing a deal before the 2023 season or at the trade deadline. While Johnson hasn't played a full season since he was drafted because of injuries, the risk here is minimal as the Bears were able to secure their top cornerback for his prime years. The four-year structure of this deal, which is the blueprint for all the major deals/extensions executed by Poles (Montez Sweat, Tremaine Edmunds, Cole Kmet), will allow Johnson to test free agency again at 28.
Brett Rypien, QB
Rypien agreed to a one-year deal, the team announced.
What it means: The veteran journeyman makes Chicago his fifth team since he signed with Denver as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Rypien's familiarity with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph after spending a couple weeks in Seattle last season is likely why the Bears chose to bring the 27-year-old in as QB3 after Tyson Bagent firmly cemented himself as Chicago's backup quarterback last season.
What's the risk: None. The job of a backup quarterback is to help prepare the starter to play on game days. No matter who Chicago chooses as QB1 in 2024, having a veteran with multiple years of NFL experience in the room if often a benefit. If the Bears end up drafting Caleb Williams with the first overall pick, having fellow quarterbacks show the USC product how to be a pro and transition from college football to the NFL is necessary for his growth.
Matt Pryor, OT
Pryor agreed to a one-year deal, a source told ESPN.
What it means: Depth is critical for the Bears offensive line which was forced to shuffle its starting combinations at least six times in 2023 because of injuries and benchings. Pryor has played every position except center since arriving in the NFL seven years ago with most of his snaps coming at left and right tackle. With Larry Borom, Chicago's incumbent swing tackle, headed into the final year of his rookie contract, Pryor provides the Bears with another backup with starting experience.
What's the risk: Not much. Pryor doesn't have notable injury history and is an inexpensive depth piece for the Bears' offensive line.
Gerald Everett, TE
Everett agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $14 million with $6.1 million fully guaranteed, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
What it means: During Shane Waldron's final two seasons in Seattle (2022-23) as offensive coordinator, the Seahawks utilized multiple tight end formations at the fourth-highest rate in the NFL. That trend is expected to continue as Waldron pairs Cole Kmet (who is coming off a career year) with Everett, whose ties to Waldron run from with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 through the 2021 season in Seattle. Everett was tied for the Chargers' team lead with an average of 5.3 yards after the catch and totaled 275 of his 411 receiving yards in that category.
What's the risk: Everett isn't the strongest run blocking tight end, but that shouldn't be the Bears' biggest concern based on how he'll be utilized. His reliability in the red zone for Chargers QB Justin Herbert should be viewed as a positive for the Bears as they decide on a quarterback for 2024.
Kevin Byard, S
The Bears and Byard agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal.
What it means: The Bears took advantage of a deep group of free agent safeties and found their replacement for Eddie Jackson in two-time All-Pro Kevin Byard, who visited Chicago over the weekend. Byard is better in coverage and against the run than Jackson, and he missed tackles at a lower rate. The nine-year veteran is slated to start opposite Jaquan Brisker and allowed the Bears to fortify a position of need. During four seasons as the Colts' defensive coordinator (2018-2021), Bears coach Matt Eberflus got to see Byard twice a year during a stretch when the veteran safety started 65 games for the Titans. Byard will fit well into a defense predicated off creating takeaways after finishing the 2023 season with 122 tackles, a career best, and 28 interceptions from 2017 to 2023.
What's the risk: The 30-year-old hasn't dealt with the number of injury issues that shortened each of the past three seasons for Jackson (which was one reason behind his release), so this shouldn't be considered much of a risk at all. Byard has started 121 of 130 games, including 10 starts with Philadelphia last year after he was traded midseason. The safety position is not a strength of this year's draft class, so going after an experienced veteran who has demonstrated an ability to be a seamless plug-and-play fit (thus why Philadelphia sent two Day 3 picks to Tennessee last October to acquire Byard) was the right move for the Bears.
Jonathan Owens, S
Owens agreed to a two-year deal worth up to $4.5 million, multiple sources told ESPN.
What it means: Chicago made another addition to its secondary by signing Owens, who fits in as a third safety behind Jaquan Brisker and Byard. Owens, 28, played nearly 70% of defensive snaps last season in Green Bay and was the second-highest special teams contributor (54.3% of snaps) on the Packers. Those qualities bode well for the Bears, who fortified their DB depth with a player with experience at free safety, playing up in the box and at slot corner. With tons of reps on kick and punt coverage/return teams, Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower can eye several roles for Owens when he's not playing on defense. Owens' workload has steadily increased since his final year in Houston (2022) when he started every game.
What's the risk: None. Owens signed a two-year deal worth $4.5 million, so this is a low cost move as the Bears fill out their defense.
Amen Ogbongbemiga, LB
Ogbongbemiga agreed to a 1-year deal worth $2.1 million, a source told ESPN.
What it means: Three of Chicago's top four special teams players were linebackers in 2023, including Dylan Cole, who played the second-most special teams snaps (75%). Ogbongbemiga, who played the second-most special teams snaps for the Chargers last season, fills the role Cole left vacant in free agency. The former CFL draftee who opted to sign as an undrafted free agent in Los Angeles, had two fumble recoveries last season and projects as depth at linebacker in Chicago.
What's the risk: None.
Coleman Shelton, C
Shelton agreed to a 1-year deal, the team announced.
What it means: Shelton is the second center the Bears have added this offseason and projects as the starter over Ryan Bates, at least until we see if Chicago adds another player in the draft (the team sent a strong contingent to Oregon's pro day on Tuesday whenJackson Powers-Johnson, the projected top center in the draft, worked out). The former Rams offensive lineman played 1,113 snaps at center in 2023 and was a starter in Los Angeles the last two seasons.
What's the risk: Not much. Getting a starting-caliber player at an inexpensive price at a position the Bears have struggled to solve the last two seasons is a win for Chicago during the season wave of free agency.
Patrick Scales, LS
The Bears signed Scales to a one-year deal with over $1 million guaranteed, according to a source.
What it means: The Bears retain their longest-tenured player and get to maintain consistency with their kicking and punting battery. Scales, who joined the Bears in 2015, has played 120 games and was a part of a unit that notched the ninth-best field goal percentage in the NFL a year ago (92.1%) with him snapping the ball. Three months after the Bears signed kicker Cairo Santos to a multiyear extension, the team prioritized continuity by working out another one-year deal to keep Scales in the fold.
What's the risk: Scales played in all 17 games for Chicago last year despite injuring a foot ahead of the final game of the season. Aside from a torn ACL that caused him to miss the 2017 season, Scales has played in every game for the Bears since 2016.
