Bears Pursued G Isaac Seumalo
As the Bears entered free agency with the NFL’s most cap space, they ventured into a few offensive line markets. Most notably, Chicago helped set Mike McGlinchey‘s price point, bowing of a sweepstakes that ended with Denver giving the ex-San Francisco blocker a top-five right tackle contract.
Although the Bears came away with four-year Titans starting guard Nate Davis, they also made a pursuit of another veteran guard. Chicago was in on the Isaac Seumalo market, ProFootballNetwork.com’s Adam Caplan notes.
Seumalo waited a few days to make his commitment. The Steelers signed the longtime Eagles guard to a three-year, $24MM pact — an accord in line with last year’s James Daniels agreement. It does not seem the Bears were willing to give Seumalo much of a guarantee, with the Steelers giving the veteran starter just $6.95MM locked in at signing. Even though assistant GM Ian Cunningham was in Philadelphia when the team extended Seumalo in 2019, the Bears looked to clearly prefer Davis.
Intent on improving Russell Wilson‘s O-line, the Broncos gave Ben Powers $27MM guaranteed. But Davis collected the second-highest guard guarantee during free agency, scoring $17.5MM (on a three-year, $30MM deal) from the Bears on Day 1 of the legal tampering period. Heading into his age-27 season, Davis is three years younger than Seumalo. The Bears are set to pair Davis with converted tackle Teven Jenkins, who is shifting from right to left guard to accommodate the incoming talent. Chicago, which circled back to its right tackle need by taking Darnell Wright at No. 10 overall, has moved Cody Whitehair back to center as well.
Seumalo’s low guarantee likely stems from his struggles staying on the field in the 2020s. While he returned as a full-time player in 2022, the former third-round pick missed 21 games over the 2020 and ’21 seasons. Knee and Lisfranc issues, respectively, sidelined Seumalo during those seasons. But he re-established his market, to some degree, this year. Pro Football Focus was slightly more bullish on Seumalo than Davis, slotting the former 10th overall among guards last season. Davis, however, drew a No. 17 placement.
The Steelers have plugged Seumalo in at left guard, while the Eagles are moving toward using 2022 second-rounder Cam Jurgens as his replacement.
Panthers Viewed Yannick Ngakoue Price As Too Steep; Bears Considered Justin Houston
Several weeks after the veteran edge rusher market’s ice began to thaw when Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark found new homes, Yannick Ngakoue and Justin Houston reached agreements to continue their careers. The Bears and Panthers, respectively, signed the veteran sack artists; each team, however, considered both players.
Rumored to be eyeing a veteran edge player opposite Brian Burns for the past two offseasons, the Panthers stood down on that front in the wake of Haason Reddick‘s 2022 exit. They did not do so this year, giving Houston a one-year deal worth $6MM guaranteed. The Panthers gave Houston more money compared to the 12-year veteran’s second Ravens pact (one year, $3.5MM), but they still did not want to meet Ngakoue’s asking price.
Ngakoue ended up collecting $10MM guaranteed from the Bears, and ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler notes the Panthers viewed this as too steep. In Houston, the Panthers will go with a player six years older but one who matched Ngakoue’s 2022 sack total (9.5) during his second Ravens season. Houston also loomed as a Bears consolation prize of sorts, with Fowler adding he was Chicago’s backup plan in case the team could not move Ngakoue’s asking price down to a level it deemed reasonable.
The Bears had eyed Ngakoue for a while, but Fowler adds the team spent time talking the seven-year vet down from a $13MM-per-year price point and had believed he wanted a multiyear deal. When Ngakoue changed agents earlier this year, a multiyear pact was indeed believed to be on his radar.
Marcus Davenport signed a one-year, $13MM deal ($10MM guaranteed) earlier this year, and Ngakoue’s production dwarfs the former first-rounder’s. Ngakoue is the only player riding a streak of seven straight eight-plus sack seasons. The former third-round pick began that surge to start his career in 2016. That said, Ngakoue has been viewed as a pass rush specialist of sorts; his issues in the run game undoubtedly led to the former Jaguars draftee/franchise tag recipient needing to wait until August before catching on somewhere.
Ngakoue, 28, will anchor the Bears’ edge-rushing corps. He had said previously landing with a surefire contender would not be a requirement for his latest free agency. While Ngakoue sought a deal that matched his 2021 Raiders AAV — from a two-year, $26MM contract that ended up being sent from the Raiders to the Colts — he still outperformed Floyd, Clark and Houston on the market. The Bears are not eyeing a designated pass rusher role for the well-traveled sack artist, with Matt Eberflus confirming (via The Athletic’s Adam Jahns; subscription required) he views Ngakoue as an every-down player.
Former Raiders defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, whom Eberflus regards as a mentor, gave the second-year Bears HC a strong Ngakoue endorsement, Jahns adds. Marinelli, who coached Ngakoue in 2021, also factored into the veteran edge choosing Chicago. Of course, the Bears’ eight-figure guarantee likely provided the biggest push here.
As the Bears and Panthers made key additions to their edge corps, Jadeveon Clowney remains unsigned. While Robert Quinn, Melvin Ingram and Carlos Dunlap are also unattached, Clowney is much younger — at 30 — and lines up as the top outside rusher available.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/6/23
Here are today’s minor moves as the weekend comes to a close:
Buffalo Bills
- Activated from PUP: DT Jordan Phillips
Chicago Bears
- Placed on IR: TE Chase Allen
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: G Yasir Durant
Green Bay Packers
- Released: Danny Etling
Houston Texans
- Signed: DT Khalil Davis
- Claimed off waivers (from Commanders): G Keaton Sutherland
- Placed on IR: T DJ Scaife
Las Vegas Raiders
- Activated from PUP: DT Byron Young
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DT Da’Shawn Hand, CB Parry Nickerson
- Waived: DT Anthony Montalvo
Minnesota Vikings
- Placed on IR: DL James Lynch (story)
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: RB Eno Benjamin (story)
New York Jets
- Waived/injured: LB Maalik Hall, LB Hamsah Nasirildeen
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: OL Josh Andrews
- Waived/injured: WR Charleston Rambo
- Released: LB Davion Taylor
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Roderick Perry
- Activated from PUP: CB Tariq Woolen
- Waived: DE MJ Anderson
Washington Commanders
- Waived: G Keaton Sutherland
Andrews joins Philadelphia as a potentially strong depth piece on the offensive line. The seven-year veteran has played 48 games over the years with five different teams, so rejoining the Eagles, even with a new staff from when he left, shouldn’t be too big of an issue. Last year, he started five of the six games he played with the Saints.
Woolen underwent arthroscopic knee surgery back in May and was given a four-to-six-week recovery timeline. He was forced to start camp on the physically unable to perform list, but it’s time for him to make his way back to the field. Last year’s other starter at cornerback, Michael Jackson, has had a great camp and rookie Devon Witherspoon is pushing for a starting role, so Woolen will be glad to get back and reestablish his role in the secondary.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/5/23
Saturday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from PUP list: G Chandler Zavala
Chicago Bears
- Waived (injury designation): TE Chase Allen
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Gavin Heslop, T Derrick Kelly
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DT Forrest Merrill
- Waived (injury designation): OL Yasir Durant
Detroit Lions
- Waived: DL Zach Morton
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks, TE Michael Jacobson
- Placed on IR: WR Ethan Fernea, OL Jake Witt
- Waived: RB Toriano Clinton
Los Angeles Rams
Minnesota Vikings
- Activated from PUP list: OLB Andre Carter II
New Orleans Saints
Signed: WR Jontre Kirklin
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Nick Vigil, LB Samuel Eguavoen
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Daelin Hayes
- Placed on IR: DE Darryl Johnson
Washington Commanders
- Signed: CB Jace Whittaker
The Browns waived receiver Daylen Baldwin yesterday, and more details on his situation have emerged today courtesy of NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (Twitter link). Baldwin tore a tendon behind his knee, and he will undergo surgery as a result. After his recovery (which is expected to take roughly six to eight weeks), Pelissero notes that a return is the Browns’ preference.
Vigil will add considerable experience to the middle of the Jets’ defense. The 29-year-old has started 53 of his 89 career games, though he has not operated as a full-time starter in recent years as he once did. Vigil spent the 2022 season in Arizona, where he was limited to only eight games played and logged a defensive snap share of 35%. Both Vigil and Eguavoen worked out with the Giants last month, but they will instead head to New York’s other franchise for the 2023 season.
Kirklin played four games with the XFL’s Houston Roughnecks, and he scored four touchdowns in the process. He will look to carry over that production at the NFL level as part of a Saints receiving corps which has plenty of uncertainty amongst its depth options.
Whittaker spent the past three seasons in Arizona, coming on and off the Cardinals’ practice squad a number of times. He was a key member of the team’s secondary last year, however, starting four of his six games played and logging a snap share of 74%. The 28-year-old will compete for a depth role behind the established starters at the CB spot in Washington.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/4/23
Here are today’s minor moves as we head into the weekend:
Atlanta Falcons
- Placed on IR: WR Chris Blair, DL Ikenna Enechukwu, QB Feleipe Franks
Baltimore Ravens
- Reverted to reserve/NFI: CB Trayvon Mullen
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Mac McCain
- Waived: CB Colby Richardson
Chicago Bears
- Released: DE Jalyn Holmes
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: LB Cam Bright, TE Miller Forristall, WR Jalen Wayne
- Waived/injured: WR Daylen Baldwin, CB Thomas Graham Jr.
- Waived: P Joseph Charlton, RB Nate McCrary, T Hunter Thedford
Denver Broncos
- Placed on IR: LB Jonas Griffith (story)
Detroit Lions
- Waived/injured: CB Jarren Williams
Houston Texans
- Signed: OL DJ Scaife
- Placed on IR: C Scott Quessenberry (story)
- Waived from IR: OL Dylan Deatherage
Miami Dolphins
- Waived/injured: FB John Lovett
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: RB Abram Smith
- Waived: FB Zach Ojile
New England Patriots
- Reverted to IR: LB Terez Hall
New York Giants
- Signed: NT Donovan Jeter
- Waived/injured: WR Jeff Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Removed from commissioner’s exempt list: OL Josh Sills
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: DE Daelin Hayes
- Placed on IR: DE Darryl Johnson
Sills was placed on the commissioner’s exempt list back in February when a grand jury indicted him on counts of rape and kidnapping. The charges stem from an event that allegedly took place back in December 2019. Today it was announced that Sills was acquitted of both charges, according to sources at The Athletic. The Eagles released a statement that, with his adjudication, he will return to the team’s active roster.
The 49ers announced that Johnson has been placed on season-ending injured reserve. They didn’t disclose the injury that will sideline the young edge they signed two months ago.
The Vikings are adding the XFL’s 2023 leading rusher in Smith. Smith had 791 rushing yards in 10 games last year.
Bears To Sign TE Marcedes Lewis
Marcedes Lewis is set to break the record for seasons played by a tight end, but it will not take place in Green Bay. The veteran is finalizing a deal with the Bears, reports Tom Pelissero of NFL Network (Twitter link). CBS Sports’ Josina Anderson tweets that the agreement is for one year and $2MM. 
Lewis made it clear in June that he had no intention or retiring and was in conversation with teams about a deal for the 2023 season. He will be able to do so in the NFC North, but in a new home for only the third time in his career. The 39-year-old spent the past five seasons with the Packers after 12 as a Jaguar.
As they begin the post-Aaron Rodgers era in Green Bay, however, attention is being turned to the young array of pass-catchers on the team. That includes rookies Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft at the TE spot. A new Packers deal for Lewis seemed unlikely once the trade sending Rodgers to the Jets was finalized, a move which has seen a number of familiar faces on offense join him in New York.
In Chicago, Lewis will compete for a role on a young offense looking to take a step forward in the passing game in particular compared to 2022. The trade involving the No. 1 pick saw wideout D.J. Moore head to the Windy City, putting him in position to operate as the team’s top pass-catcher. At the tight end position, the recently-extended Cole Kmet will lead the group, one which now has even more of a Green Bay flavor to it.
Robert Tonyan inked a Bears deal at the start of free agency after a lengthy Packers stint. He and Lewis will have plenty of familiarity as they compete for snaps in the new-look Bears offense. The latter had the second-least productive season of his career in 2022, recording only six catches (though two of them were touchdowns). His snap share (41%) remained consistent with that of the three previous campaigns, however, showing his continued effectiveness as a run blocker.
Much of the Bears’ success on offense will be determined by the growth of quarterback Justin Fields and the production from the renovated skill-position group around him. Lewis will spend the remainder of training camp looking to carve out a depth role as the newest member of that unit, and in doing so make NFL history for longevity at his position.
Bears, DE Yannick Ngakoue Agree To Deal
The top edge rusher still on the market has found a home. Yannick Ngakoue has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the Bears, reports ESPN’s Adam Schefter (Twitter link). 
Schefter adds that the contract includes $10MM guaranteed, with a maximum value of $10.5MM. Ngakoue made out very well for himself financially considering how tepid his market appeared to be for much of the offseason. It does not come as a surprise, however, that he will head to the Windy City in 2023.
The Bears – a team which recorded a league-worst 22 sacks last season – were named as a team to watch in June. A report from that time indicated Ngakoue was seeking between $8MM and $10MM on his next contract, a figure which outpaces what Leonard Floyd and Frank Clark were able to secure (in terms of base compensation) from the Bills and Broncos, respectively. Bears GM Ryan Poles has been rather public about his ongoing desire to land an upgrade on the edge, and this move has allowed that to come to fruition.
Ngakoue, 28, had originally stated his desire to sign a multi-year deal with a contending team. Securing a long-term commitment from any team has proven elusive to date in his career, though. The former second-rounder has played for five teams in his seven years in the NFL, remaining productive at every stop. Ngakoue has recorded at least eight sacks every year, but his struggles against the run have limited his overall effectiveness and thus his ability to find a stable home.
The Maryland alum changed his stance last month, indicating he did not see the chances of his next team to compete for a Super Bowl as a make-or-break factor in his decision-making process. After a 3-14 season last year, the Bears certainly qualify as a team which is not expected to be among the heavyweights in the NFC. Despite head coach Matt Eberflus having a background with the Colts, where Ngakoue played last season, the pair have never worked together.
The Bears entered Thursday with the most cap space in the league, holding over $28MM in available funds. A sizeable investment in Ngakoue will eat considerably into that total, but if he can remain consistent as a pass-rushing presence, he will prove to be an effective addition as Chicago looks to take a needed step forward on defense.
Minor NFL Transactions: 8/1/23
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DL Nick Thurman
- Waived: LB Arron Mosby
- Waived/failed physical: DL John Penisini
Chicago Bears
- Waived: DT Donovan Jeter
Denver Broncos
- Signed: WR Nick Williams
Detroit Lions
- Waived/injured: TE Shane Zylstra
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: WR Andre Miller, OL Cole Schneider
- Waived: OL Chuck Filiaga, TE Camren McDonald
Houston Texans
- Signed: K Jake Bates
- Placed on IR: FB Troy Hairston
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed: RB Toriano Clinton, TE La’Michael Pettway, T Dan Skipper
- Waived: T Jordan Murray, TE Kaden Smith, DT Jamal Woods
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
- Waived: LB Kana’i Mauga, T Justin Murray
New England Patriots
- Claimed (from Bears): WR Thyrick Pitts
- Placed on reserve/retired list: WR Jalen Hurd
New York Giants
- Signed: C Sean Harlow
- Placed on IR: C J.C. Hassenauer
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: RB Greg Bell, RB John Lovett
- Waived: RB Jason Huntley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: DT Robert Cooper, OL Liam Ryan
- Waived: DL Roderick Perry
Chosen in the third round by the 49ers back in 2019, Hurd never ended up seeing regular-season action. A converted running back who played in front of Alvin Kamara at points while at Tennessee, Hurd transferred to Baylor and became a wide receiver. Two season-ending injuries — a back malady in 2019 and an ACL tear in 2020 — derailed Hurd’s 49ers tenure. The team cut him during the 2021 season. Barely a week after the Patriots signed Hurd, it appears he is throwing in the towel on an injury-plagued career.
Penisini had unretired this offseason, joining the Panthers. The former Lions sixth-rounder played two seasons on his rookie contract but called it quits in June 2022. His unretirement will precede a Panthers exit. The Lions are moving Zylstra off their 90-man roster due to a severe knee injury. If unclaimed, Zylstra would revert to Detroit’s IR list. Zylstra has seen action in 17 games for the Lions over the past two seasons.
Hassenauer will require surgery to repair a triceps injury, and this transaction will shut him down — as far as the Giants are concerned. The only way Hassenauer can play in 2023 would be if the Giants removed him from IR via an injury settlement. Hairston suffered a herniated disk during practice, per KPRC2’s Aaron Wilson (on Twitter).
Bears Claim DT Bravvion Roy
Bravvion Roy did not advance to the second spot on the waiver priority list. The Bears submitted a claim for the recently cut Panthers defensive tackle, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets.
Formerly a sixth-round Panthers pick in 2020, Roy will remain tied to his rookie contract. One year remains on that deal. The Bears will take a look at the fourth-year defender, adding him to a D-tackle group that features some new pieces.
Chicago used second- and third-round picks to bolster its interior D-line this year, selecting Gervon Dexter in Round 2 and Zacch Pickens in Round 3. The team also rosters Justin Jones and Andrew Billings. The Bears also signed hybrid defensive lineman DeMarcus Walker this offseason, creating a bit of a crowded position group. While the team still appears in need at defensive end, they have made some moves to bolster their DT posts in 2023.
Roy, 26, has made 15 career starts. Pro Football Focus ranked Roy 86th among 127 qualified interior D-linemen last season; that marks his top ranking. Roy had spent the past six years playing for Matt Rhule. A Baylor commit before Rhule’s move south from Temple, Roy played three seasons under Rhule in Waco and then arrived in Carolina during the well-paid HC’s first year there. The Panthers still used Roy frequently after Rhule’s October 2022 firing, giving him four starts during Steve Wilks‘ time at the helm.
The Bears traded out of the No. 1 draft position, with the Panthers, but their 3-14 record in 2022 will provide them a key perch as non-vested veterans are cut this summer. Chicago will have first dibs on players waived during training camp and on cutdown day later this month.
Minor NFL Transactions: 7/31/23
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: K Matthew Trickett
Baltimore Ravens
- Activated from PUP: DB Damarion Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: DT Nick Thurman
Chicago Bears
- Signed: TE Jared Pinkney
- Waived: WR Thyrick Pitts
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Lorenzo Burns
Denver Broncos
- Signed: G Yasir Durant
- Waived: OT Christian DiLauro
Detroit Lions
- Activated from NFI: WR Marvin Jones
Houston Texans
- Signed: TE Dalton Keene
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from PUP: TE Will Mallory
Kansas City Chiefs
- Signed: CB Anthony Witherstone
- Placed on IR: LB Isaiah Moore
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Darius Harris
Los Angeles Rams
- Activated from PUP: OT Warren McClendon
New Orleans Saints
- Placed on IR: G Trai Turner (story)
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: OT Liam Ryan, RB SaRodorick Thompson
- Waived: LB Cam Bright, S Morrell Osling
Washington Commanders
- Signed: RB Derrick Gore
Derrick Gore is probably the most intriguing signee on the list, with the running back having seen time in 11 games for the Chiefs in 2021. He finished that season with 361 yards from scrimmage and a pair of touchdowns, but he didn’t have a chance for a followup performance in Kansas City. After landing on IR in late August last year, he was ultimately released by the Chiefs. Gore caught on with the Saints and spent the majority of the 2022 season on their practice squad.
Yasir Durant is another Chiefs product, with the lineman getting into 11 games for Kansas City in 2020. He appeared in seven games for the Patriots in 2021 before spending most of last season on the Saints practice squad. He’ll be taking the roster spot previously held by Christian DiLauro, who got into five games for the Titans and Broncos over the past two years.
Darius Harris will be joining the Raiders following a career year in Kansas City. After being limited to only 11 games through his first two seasons in the NFL, Harris got into all 17 games for the Chiefs last year, including four starts. The former UDFA finished the year with 43 tackles and 1.5 sacks, and he added another five tackles in three playoff games. One of Harris’s strongest performances of the 2022 season came against the Raiders when he had 10 tackles and a sack.