Bears, Colts To Meet With John Jenkins
Seahawks free agent defensive lineman John Jenkins is visiting the Bears on Thursday, a source tells Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). If he doesn’t immediately sign in Chicago, he’ll visit the Colts on Friday. 
[RELATED: Top 2017 Defensive Free Agents By Position]
Jenkins, a true nose tackle, would be a logical fit for both the Bears and Colts as they run a 3-4 scheme. Right now, the Bears have three nose tackles under contract, all of whom were drafted by the team: Eddie Goldman, Will Sutton, and Ego Ferguson.
The Colts picked up defensive tackle Al Woods on Thursday morning, but he is more of a three-technique player than a straight-up nose tackle like Jenkins. In the last week, the Colts have already imported three free agent defensive linemen in Woods, Jabaal Sheard, and Margus Hunt.
We have Jenkins ranked as one of the 15 best free agent interior defenders left in free agency.
Rival Team "Baffled" By Bears Signings
Rival clubs are “baffled” by some of the Bears‘ free agent signings, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com. Specifically, Chicago’s decisions to bring in Mike Glennon ($15MM per year), Prince Amukamara ($7.5MM), and Markus Wheaton (two years, $11MM) “raised some eyebrows,” per La Canfora. While the Bears did unsuccessfully target other free agents such as A.J. Bouye, the club made other surprisingly large commitments to cornerback Marcus Cooper and tight end Dion Sims.
Bears Host Vance Walker On Visit
UFA interior defender Vance Walker paid a visit to Chicago for a Bears summit, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. The Broncos are still interested in retaining Walker, per Fowler, but the key factor here is how Walker recovers from the ACL tear he sustained last August.
The Broncos signed both Zach Kerr and Domata Peko to help fortify a defensive line that saw both Walker’s and Sylvester Williams‘ contracts come off the books and one that didn’t possess much depth compared to its Super Bowl championship season. Denver was interested in retaining Walker, who was slated to start at right defensive end opposite Derek Wolfe last season prior to the knee injury, in February as well.
Walker spent two seasons in Denver, serving as a backup behind Wolfe and Malik Jackson in 2015 and watching Jared Crick function as a starter in ’16. The Bears could use some depth at their end spot, with Akiem Hicks fronting a somewhat thin unit presently.
Formerly with the Falcons, Raiders and Chiefs, Walker made 32 tackles and recorded two sacks during his most recent healthy season. He turns 30 in April.
Contract Details: Campbell, Demps, Wheaton
Let’s take a look the financial details of some recently-signed contracts:
- Mike Adams, S (Panthers): Two years, $4.2MM. $1.15MM guaranteed. $650K signing bonus. $00K available annually via Pro Bowl and interception incentives (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle).
- Calais Campbell, DL (Jaguars): Four years, $60MM. $30MM guaranteed. $6MM signing bonus. Base salaries $9MM (guaranteed), $15MM (guaranteed), $12MM, $15MM. $3MM option bonus for 2019 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Marcus Cooper, CB (Bears): Three years, $16MM. $8MM guaranteed. $1.5MM signing bonus. $1MM available annually in Pro Bowl and interception incentives (Twitter links via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune).
- Quintin Demps, S (Bears): Three years, $13.5MM. $5MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ryan Griffin, TE (Texans): Three years, $9MM. $3.225MM guaranteed. Annual $100K workout base de-escalator (Twitter links via Wilson).
- D.J. Hayden, CB (Lions): One year, $3.75MM. $2.25MM guaranteed. $1MM signing bonus. $250K workout bonus. $1.5MM available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Ted Larsen, OL (Dolphins): Three years, $5.65MM. $1.75MM guaranteed. $1.25MM signing bonus. $500K escalator in 2018. $1MM escalator in 2019 (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Josh Robinson, CB (Buccaneers): Two years, $5M. $2MM guaranteed. $1MM roster bonus due on eighth day of 2017 league year. $1.75MM team option in 2018. $750K available via incentives (Twitter link via Wilson).
- Cornelius Washington, DL (Lions): Two years, $5.825MM. $1.5MM signing bonus. $1.5MM guaranteed (link via Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press).
- Markus Wheaton, WR (Bears): Two years, $11MM. $5MM guaranteed (Twitter link via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times)
- Terrance Williams, WR (Cowboys): Four years, $17MM. $9.5MM guaranteed. $5MM signing bonus. 2020 option season. Annual $200K workout base salary de-escalator (Twitter links via Wilson).
Bears Sign Kendall Wright
Kendall Wright will attempt to re-establish his value in a new locale in 2017. The former first-round Titans pick will join the Bears on a one-year deal worth up to $4MM, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reports (on Twitter). The team confirmed the move (via Twitter).
Wright will join Markus Wheaton in trekking to Chicago from the AFC on what will be a revamped Bears receiving corps, one that lost Alshon Jeffery.
After being marginalized in what became a run-based attack in Tennessee, Wright knew he would not be back for a sixth Titans season shortly after his fifth concluded. He was a healthy scratch in Tennessee’s regular-season finale and did not surpass 500 receiving yards in either of his final two Titans slates.
But the 27-year-old Wright, who’s played much of his career in the slot, has a 1,000-plus-yard receiving season to his credit. He finished the 2013 campaign with 94 receptions, 1,079 yards and two touchdowns. He added six touchdowns in 2014, a season that featured 715 yards for Wright, but one that doubled as his last as the Titans’ clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver. After going for more than 2,300 yards in his first three seasons with Jake Locker as the primary distributor, Wright totaled just 824 in his last two Titans seasons.
Wright likely had a backer in a high-ranking place on the Bears’ coaching staff, with former Titans OC Dowell Loggains now the Chicago OC. Loggains was Tennessee’s OC from 2012-13.
With the signing, the Bears are expected to release Eddie Royal, as Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune writes. Royal, who will turn 31 in May, has one year remaining on his contract, but the $5MM that he is due in 2017 contains no guarantees, so Chicago can clear the full $5MM from its salary cap by cutting him. Per Biggs, Royal’s contract will likely be terminated when he can pass a physical after undergoing surgery in late December to repair a turf toe issue.
Cordarrelle Patterson Meets With Bears
The Bears are reportedly making a push to sign free agent receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, and the club has now officially taken a visit with him, tweets Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
Patterson is an excellent kick returner, but he has yet to do much as a receiver in the NFL. This past season, he set a new career high with 52 receptions, but he averaged just 8.7 yards per catch. The Bears might see Patterson as a late bloomer and they could find a gem in the former Viking if they can get him to clean up his route running.
Patterson, 26 later this month, has been breaking the hearts of fantasy owners for years. Last season, however, he earned a second career All-Pro nod by averaging 31.7 yards per kick return. For his career, he has averaged 30+ yards per kick return attempt (it’s a lot higher if you subtract his 2014 showing) and has five TDs off of returns over the last four years.
Patterson has also met with the Redskins and will visit with the Raiders, an meeting that will take place on Sunday, per Adam Caplan of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Bears Sign Marcus Cooper
The Bears announced that they’ve signed free agent cornerback Marcus Cooper. It’s a three-year pact for Cooper, tweets Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chicago was the third team known to be eyeing Cooper, as both the Jets and Steelers reportedly had interest in the 27-year-old defensive back. The Bears have already addressed their secondary this week, agreeing to terms with corner Prince Amukamara on a one-year deal, and inking veteran safety Quintin Demps to a three-year pact. Chicago can use all the help it can get in the back end, however, as safety Adrian Amos was the only sure starting-caliber player the club boasted coming into the offseason.
Initially arriving in Kansas City as a waiver claim, Cooper became an instant contributor for the 2013 Chiefs, intercepting three passes. But Cooper’s role slowly began to diminish in the years that followed. After starting 27 games between the ’13 and ’14 slates, Cooper seldom played on a 2015 Chiefs team that only used two cornerbacks in dime packages. Pro Football Focus, though, is less bullish on Cooper’s resurgence last season, slotting the now-27-year-old defender as its No. 101 full-time corner.
The Bears also re-signed cornerback Johnthan Banks to a one-year deal earlier today.
Bears Re-Sign Johnthan Banks
Free agent cornerback Johnthan Banks announced today via Twitter that he’s been re-signed by the Bears. Chicago has since confirmed the transaction, and announced that it’s a one-year deal for Banks.
The 2016 season was a year of tumult for the 27-year-old Banks, as the former second-round pick spent time with three clubs. The team that originally drafted him — the Buccaneers — traded Banks to the Lions in November, but Detroit waived him just a month later. Banks stayed in the NFC North, however, as Chicago claimed him off waivers. All told, Banks — who offers good size at 6’2″ — played in nine games last season, and started two contests (both with the Bears).
Improving the secondary loomed a primary goal for the Bears heading into the offseason, and while Banks is likely being viewed as depth rather than a starting piece, Chicago has made other moves to bolster its defensive backfield this week. The club agreed to a one-year deal with cornerback Prince Amukamara, and also signed veteran safety Quintin Demps to a three-year pact. Additionally, the Bears have met with free agents Darius Butler and Marcus Cooper.
Bears Re-Sign Christian Jones
The Bears announced that they’ve re-signed linebacker Christian Jones to a one-year deal. Jones was a restricted free agent, so Chicago presumably inked him for something less than the $1.797MM original round RFA tender.
Jones, 26, was a full-time starter for the Bears as recently as 2015, when he started 15 games for the club. That year, he played over 70% of Chicago’s defensive plays and picked up 59 tackles. But when the Bears signed veteran ‘backers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman last offseason, Jones lost his starting gig.
The Bears shopped Jones before last season, but after not finding any takers, they placed Jones in a special teams role. Although he appeared in all 16 games in 2016, Jones only started two contests, instead picking up most of his playing time through 323 special teams snaps. He posted five tackles in that space, and will likely continue on as a special teamer in 2017.
Darius Butler Visiting Bears
Defensive back Darius Butler is meeting with the Bears today, according to Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com (Twitter link), who adds this will be the first of “several scheduled trips” for Butler. La Canfora reported on Friday that Butler had reached an impasse in negotiations with the Colts and was planning to visit other clubs.
Butler, a former second-round pick, had played cornerback for most of his career before transitioning to safety in the middle of last season. He wants to continue playing deep, as he told Stephen Holder of the Indianapolis Star last week, and that’s presumably how Butler is marketing himself to potential suitors. Pro Football Focus still graded Butler among corners in 2016, and the 30-year-old finished as the league’s No. 20 CB.
Chicago has already signed one safety this week, agreeing to terms with former Houston defensive back Quintin Demps. Demps will pair with incumbent Adrian Amos in the Bears’ secondary, but given the popularity of three-safety (“big nickel”) sets in today’s NFL, Chicago still has room for Butler. Plus, given Butler’s ability to cover the slot, he’d presumably find ample playing time.
Butler, who appeared in 12 games (seven starts) for Indianapolis, ranks as PFR’s No. 48 overall free agent. Among safeties, we placed him fourth thanks to his coverage ability.