The Chicago Bears are among the teams with new head coaches – in their case, Ben Johnson – who will begin their offseason programs this week. Ahead of that, they made some late additions in free agency, signing Miles Boykin and Shaun Wade.
The Bears made announcements for both players.
Bears Add Ex-Ravens Duo in Free Agency
Bears Bring Miles Boykin Home
“Tinley Park’s very own,” the Bears posted on X on April 3. “We have signed @MBoykin814 to a one-year contract.”
A 6-foot-4 wide receiver out of Notre Dame – a pipeline the Bears have not been shy about tapping into – Boykin was the No. 93 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by the Baltimore Ravens. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
He arrives with 38 receptions, 498 yards, and 7 touchdowns in his career.
Boykin joins a receiver room featuring DJ Moore and 2024 first-round pick Rome Odunze, with 2023 fourth-rounder Tyler Scott, and new additions Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay.
Bears Add Former Patriots CB in Free Agency
“Wade’s World [Earth emoji],” the Bears said in a separate post on April 3. “We have signed Shaun Wade to a one-year contract.”
Wade was also drafted by the Ravens, taken No. 160 overall in 2021,and he was teammates with Boykin during the offseason program. However, the Ravens traded him to the New England Patriots in August of that year, and Wade went on to spend the next three seasons in the AFC East.
Wade fits the mold of the current cornerback group.
The Bears’ top four corners – Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Tyrique Stevenson, and Terell Smith – are all 6-feet or 6-foot-1. He started six of his 14 appearances with the Patriots in 2024.
Bears Will Begin Offseason Program Before 2025 NFL Draft
The Bears will have their first day of their offseason program on April 7, likely holding conditioning tests for players. They will hold their voluntary minicamp from April 21-23, and will have their first OTAs on May 20-22. The 2025 NFL Draft is on April 24-26.
There remains a chance the Bears are not done making veteran additions to their roster in free agency before then. Over The Cap projects the Bears have $10.4 million in space as of April 3.