The first wave of NFL free agency goes fast, and the majority of the big deals are wrapped up in the negotiating period, which leads to about two weeks of bargain shopping before teams reassess and turn focus to the draft.
The Chicago Bears didn’t skip a beat moving from bigger acquisitions such as linebackers Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards and guard Nate Davis to more modest additions such as tight end Robert Tonyan, nose tackle Andrew Billings and running back D’Onta Foreman, all of whom signed contracts Friday.
All figure to be in position to play meaningful roles. Tonyan offers a lot more as a receiver than last year’s No. 2 tight end Ryan Griffin did. Tonyan has the added benefit of knowing the offense as well as any outsider based on his time in Green Bay with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Billings, who will earn $3.5 million on a one-year deal, projects as the starter in the base defense, a capable run stuffer that was necessary if the Bears hope Edmunds and Edwards will have a chance to shine.
Foreman is coming off a career-best season with the Carolina Panthers and enters a position room that needs to replace the 201 carries David Mongtomery had in 2022.
General manager Ryan Poles spent most of his time in free agency last year at the thrift store, and what turned into a 3-14 team pretty much got what it paid for. Fullback Khari Blasingame and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown were re-signed after playing on one-year deals. They made modest contributions. None of the free agents the Bears had were home runs, and wide receiver Byron Pringle and defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad fizzled.
The Bears should get much more from newcomers this year. Edmunds and Edwards hope to lead a turnaround on defense. Davis is a solid addition for the interior of the line. The rank-and-file additions that follow — Tonyan, Billings and Foreman — need to be more effective for the team to fill key roles with more than replacement-level players.
It sounds as if Getsy did a good job selling Tonyan on how he would fit into what they’re doing.
“This offense goes through the tight ends, whether it’s blocking, passing, whatever,” Tonyan said Friday. “Cole’s a great tight end. He’s big, strong and I think that adding that — that can complement me and him. I’m super pumped. We …read more
Source:: The Mercury News
