Patriots and Jaguars and Bears, oh my!
Following the lead of the New England Patriots in 2021 and the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2022, the Chicago Bears were the big spenders Monday as NFL free agency got underway.
The Bears, who entered the legal tampering period with about $96 million in salary-cap space in 2023, handed out three multi-year contracts with a combined maximum value of more than $121 million, according to reports.
The wildest part, however, is that the Bears still had premium needs left to address at offensive tackle and pass-rusher after agreeing to terms with inside linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (four years, $72 million), inside linebacker T.J. Edwards (three years, $19.5 million) and offensive guard Nate Davis (three years, $30 million).
The three additions come only a few days after the Bears acquired receiver D.J. Moore’s contract (three years, $52.3 million remaining, according to spotrac.com) in a blockbuster trade.
Edmunds, 24, is expected to blow away the top of a deep free-agent collection of inside linebackers.
The Bears, who haven’t won a playoff game since 2010, are accelerating their rebuild to capitalize on the changing face of the NFC North Division, where the Packers soon could be without Aaron Rodgers and the defending champion Vikings are getting younger.
Will it work?
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In 2021, the Patriots handed out seven contracts totaling more than $200 million, including north of $81 million guaranteed, on the first day of free agency. It resulted in a Wild Card playoff berth, the first after the Tom Brady era ended.
In 2022, the Jaguars made the Patriots’ shopping spree look like child’s play.
They spent $260 million, including more than $150 million guaranteed, on seven players over the first two days of free agency.
It resulted in a reversal from the league’s worst record to an AFC South title and a playoff victory.
The Bears are in the same boat as the Jaguars, after finishing with last season’s worst record.
The Jaguars made the No. 1 pick in the 2022 draft to supplement free agency, while the Bears already traded down from No. 1 to No. 9 to acquire Moore and other draft assets from the Panthers.