The Chicago Bears are getting started on their plans for free agency with the early negotiating window opening on March 11. Free agents can officially begin agreeing to new contracts on March 13.
Even after securing All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a new four-year, $76 million contract, there are still holes on the defense. Most notably, the Bears are in the market for a new starting free safety. They cut long-time starter Eddie Jackson earlier this offseason.
And that?s exactly what they are looking into.
?The #Bears hosted FA S Kevin Byard on a visit yesterday, source said,? NFL Network?s Ian Rapoport reported on March 9. ?The former All-Pro was with the #Titans his entire career until a trade to the #Eagles last season.?
Bears Host 2-Time Pro Bowl Safety Kevin Byard Ahead of Free Agency
Byard, 30, logged a career-high 122 total tackles this past season. The two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro also intercepted one pass, deflected three others, and recovered one fumble. Byard was set to count north of $14 million against the cap this season.
He twice restructured his five-year, $70.5 million pact, including making it a two-year, $25.1 million one with the Eagles. The Bears have $63.6 million in cap space following their previous offseason moves.
Spotrac projects him to command a two-year, $14 million contract.
The Bears have made several actual transactions in recent days, including re-signing both the longest-tenured and shortest-tenured Bears to new contracts.
Bears Re-Sign Longest, Newest Bears
?Long snapper news: The #Bears are re-signing Patrick Scales to a one-year deal that includes over $1 million guaranteed, per source,? NFL Network?s Tom Pelissero reported on March 9. ?The longest-tenured Chicago player is back for another season.?
Scales has spent all but his first NFL season ? spent with the Baltimore Ravens ? in Chicago.
He took over duties in Week 12 of the 2015 season and has held down the position ever since, making all 120 possible appearances in that span.
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They also announced the return of wide receiver Collin Johnson, who was added to the active roster ahead of Week 18. Johnson originally signed with the practice squad in October and appeared in three games last season.
Johnson told Clocker Sports after the season finale that he hoped to return.
Bears Add Former 49ers Special Teamer
Chicago also announced the signing of safety Tarvarius Moore. Moore, 27, is a 6-foot-2 safety who last played in 2022. He spent all four seasons of his NFL career with the San Francisco 49ers. He missed 2023 with an injury after signing with the Green Bay Packers.
Moore has logged 1,046 career snaps on defense and 1,096 snaps on special teams. That paints a clear picture of what his role might be in Chicago.
The Bears still have 2022 seventh-rounder Elijah Hicks (six starts in 2023) on the roster.
This year?s crop of free agents also includes two-time Denver Broncos Pro Bowler Justin Simmons and Quandre Diggs, formerly of the Seattle Seahawks. Their teams cut them earlier in the week ahead of free agency.
The Bears figure to be one of the league’s more active teams. They have needs on both sides of the ball, including wide receiver and, potentially the backfield. There is “mutual interest” with Las Vegas Raiders free agent Josh Jacobs, per former Bears running back Jason McKie, who shares representation with the former Alabama star.
