Eddie Royal to Bears: Latest Contract Details, Comments and Reaction

The Chicago Bears' search for a Brandon Marshall replacement has landed on Eddie Royal. Chicago and the free-agent wide receiver agreed to a three-year contract Wednesday, which will pair Royal with former Broncos teammate Jay Cutler, according to the team.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reported that the deal is for three years worth $15 million with $10 million in guaranteed money.

Royal, 28, spent the last three seasons with the San Diego Chargers. He made 62 receptions for 778 yards and seven touchdowns in 2014, finishing among the team leaders in all three categories. A second-round pick in 2008, Royal had his best career season with Cutler throwing the ball his direction. The Virginia Tech product had 91 receptions for 980 yards and five touchdowns as a rookie before Cutler was traded to Chicago.

With Cutler returning as the Bears quarterback in 2015, Royal is a natural fit to help replace another former teammate in Marshall. Chicago unloaded Marshall's onerous contract on the New York Jets earlier this offseason in exchange for a draft pick. Marshall made the Pro Bowl and had 100-plus receptions in two of his three years with the Bears, but he started to show signs of regression during an injury-riddled 2014 campaign.

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Royal is far from a suitable Marshall replacement on his own; he's never so much as had 1,000 yards in a season. However, his signing may be an indication the Bears are looking to bolster depth rather than going with the top-heavy approach prevalent in their receiving corps in recent seasons.

Four players (Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Matt Forte and Martellus Bennett) accounted for more than 85 percent of Chicago's receptions last season. No Bears receiver other than Marshall or Jeffery had more than 17 receptions. 

Adding reliable veterans around the margins may incentivize Cutler, long known for staring down receivers, to spread the ball around. The Bears already have a young talent in Marquess Wilson they'd like to see more of, and it's possible they continue building at receiver via mid-cost options in free agency.   

At the very least, adding Royal satiates the team's apparent need to surround Cutler with at least one player from his professional peak at all times.

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