The Chicago Bears had an active session on the first day of NFL free agency, signing a much-needed edge rusher.
ESPN’s Courtney Cronin reported Monday, March 10, that the Bears had reached an agreement with a former Indianapolis Colts player worth over $50 million.
“Source confirms the Bears are signing DE Dayo Odeyingbo to a 3-year, $48 million contract with $32 million guaranteed,” Cronin said in a posting on X. “Chicago gets its pass rusher opposite Montez Sweat.”
Dayo Odeyingbo has shown to be a solid performer throughout his first NFL contract.
The Colts selected Odeyingbo from Vanderbilt in the second round of the 2021 NFL draft (54th overall).
Last season, the 25-year-old recorded 42 pressures, 25 hurries, and 4 sacks, according to Pro Football Focus. Odeyingbo recorded a career-high 8 sacks in 2023, up from 5 the previous year, according to Pro Football Reference. He has caused 5 fumbles in his four-year career (61 games played, 19 starts), according to PFR.
Odeyingbo, who stands 6 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs 286 pounds, isn’t a particularly good run stopper. In 2024, he received a PFF player grade of 56.8 in that category, placing him 133rd out of 211 edge defenders who saw enough snaps to be rated.
However, he rated in the top 35% of players at his position with a 65.5 pass rush grade, which is what Chicago wants the most from him and why he’ll make up to $50 million over the next three seasons.
The Bears also signed defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, whom the Atlanta Falcons released on Monday morning, to a three-year deal. According to PFF, Jarrett’s contract could be valued up to $43.5 million over the next three years. He was slightly above-average as a pass rusher and run stopper last season.
Neither guy is a surprise signing, but both provide competence to a Bears defensive front that needed it against both the run and the pass during a 10-game losing skid last year. Chicago concluded the season with a total of 40 sacks, ranking 16th among the league’s 32 teams.
The Bears may have missed out on a blockbuster trade for Trey Hendrickson.
Several observers speculated that Chicago may trade for players such as Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders and Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns, before both of those megastar pass rushers re-signed with their respective teams on monster contract extensions.
Linebacker Josh Sweat, formerly of the Philadelphia Eagles and now of the Arizona Cardinals, and edge rusher Khalil Mack, of the Los Angeles Chargers, signed contracts on the first day of free agency. They were the top two outside pass rushers in ESPN’s top 50 free agency rankings, compiled by Matt Bowen in late January.
With the majority of the upper-echelon talent already gone — either through trade or free agency — Odeyingbo and Sweat are expected to open the season as Chicago’s primary edge rushers. However, Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro Trey Hendrickson remains available for trade and might cost as low as a second-round choice
.
Chicago has two of those early in the round, at Nos. 39 and 41 overall. The dilemma at this point would be paying Hendrickson around $30 million per year over a multiyear contract after committing more than $90 million to the defensive line over the following three seasons on the first day of free agency in 2025.