The Chicago Bears signed inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman to a three-year, $12 million contract with $6 million guaranteed.
He can earn another $2 million via incentives. The Bears placed a major emphasis on upgrading at inside linebacker, landing Freeman and Danny Trevathan also joining Chicago on a four-year, $24.5 million deal. A career overachiever out of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Freeman spent three years in the CFL before being signed by the Indianapolis Colts in 2012. Freeman and Trevathan were PFF's Nos. 2 (Freeman) and 6 (Trevathan) inside linebackers out of 60 qualifiers last season. Bears' 2015 'backers Christian Jones, Jonathan Anderson and Shea McClellin ranked 31st, 32nd, and 44th, respectively.
Chicago's 0.12 Adjusted Defensive Net Expected Points (NEP) per play in 2015 tied for 30th in the league. They were particularly atrocious defending the pass, ranking 31st in Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play.
Source: Rotoworld.com