Grading the Chicago Bears' Free-Agency Moves So Far
The Chicago Bears made their biggest splash of the offseason when they signed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a five-year deal last Wednesday.
In addition to signing their new pass-rusher, the Bears also signed veteran wide receiver Eddie Royal, two-time All-Pro safety Antrel Rolle and guard Vladimir Ducasse.
Royal said he was drawn to Chicago after meeting with new general manager Ryan Pace.
“It was good to meet everybody else and just get a feel for the organization,” Royal said in a phone interview Saturday, via Adam Jahns of the Chicago Sun-Times. “And the GM, Ryan Pace, is just amazing. His vision for the team and everything he has envisioned for the organization was exactly what I thought [about] a direction a team needed to be going in. It felt right.”
Royal was not the only one who came away impressed with Pace and the team's coaching staff. Rolle said on the Mully and Hanley Show on 670 The Score, via Dan Durkin of CBSChicago.com:
"Once I met the general manager Ryan Pace, [John Fox], Vic Fangio, man, I knew off the bat, this was the place where I needed to be. More importantly, this was the place I knew needed my play-making ability, needed my leadership — more importantly, needed someone who was going to war each and every single game no matter what the outcome shows.
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Pace wasted little time addressing some of the team's biggest needs, but how did he do?
Just ahead, we graded each of the team's free-agent moves based on their age, prior performance and how they will fit with the team.
Signed Linebacker Pernell McPhee
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The Bears needed to find someone who could get after the quarterback, and they believe they found the answer in McPhee.
"This is a player we targeted right from the onset," Pace said at McPhee's introductory press conference, via Larry Mayer of ChicagoBears.com. "He is a highly productive, disruptive and versatile defender. This guy not only brings the top physical talent but also the right mentality and makeup to improve our football team."
In four seasons with the Baltimore Ravens, McPhee registered 92 tackles, 17 sacks, seven pass deflections and forced three fumbles.
McPhee played a limited role behind starters Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs, but Dumervil thinks McPhee is one of the best pass-rushers in the game.
“As a pure rusher, he’s probably one of the better ones I’ve seen,” said Dumervil, via Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. “He’s probably got a better finesse game than me. There’s a move that he does that I can’t even attempt to try to do.”
When asked for a scouting report on himself at his introductory press conference, McPhee gave a simple assessment.
"I'm violent, and that's all you need, to be violent," McPhee said, via Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com. "No, just a violent guy [who tries] to forget about the [last] play no matter if it's good or bad, and play with that motor and with that energy."
According to Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, McPhee signed a five-year, $38.75 million deal with "$15.5 million guaranteed, a $2.5 million signing bonus and a $5 million roster bonus and a fully guaranteed $1 million base salary in 2015."
Considering the fact that McPhee is just 26 years old and is presumed to be an ascending player, the Bears may have come away with a steal.
Bleacher Report's Ty Schalter rated Chicago's signing of McPhee as the third best in the first week of free agency.
"This is one of the craftiest free-agent moves and best free-agent fits we've seen in a while," Schalter wrote. "When we look back on this crazy free-agency period, the relatively quiet signing of McPhee will be remembered as one of the best."
His motor and energy will be a welcomed addition to a Chicago defense that struggled to get after the quarterback last season. The team will have some growing pains as it shifts from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4 defense, but McPhee is a good piece to start building around.
Grade: A
Signed Wide Receiver Eddie Royal
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The Bears have been looking for a slot receiver for years, and they believe they found their answer in Royal.
According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears signed Royal to a three-year deal worth $15 million with $10 million guaranteed.
Schalter is skeptical of the signing and ranked it the 43rd-best signing of the first week of free agency because of the contract, writing:
"This contract, though… $10 million guaranteed? To a guy about to turn 29? Whose best year ever was a 91-catch, 980-yard, five-touchdown rookie season? Who's only started at least 12 games in a season twice in seven years?
I'm a fan of Royal's redemption story, but this is a bizarre first-week signing.
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Royal did have his most productive NFL season with Jay Cutler under center, and he said the much-maligned quarterback played a part in his decision to sign in Chicago.
Royal had this to say about Cutler last week on SiriusXM NFL Radio with hosts Bruce Murray and James Lofton, via Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun-Times:
"He was one of the first people to reach out and talk to me. That meant a lot. Just as a receiver, you want the quarterback to be on the same page as you, on and off the field. You want that connection and that bond. We had that from the minute we got on the field.
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He will likely be used exclusively out of the slot in 2015, and he is excited to work with Bears offensive coordinator Adam Gase.
"I just see what Gase is able to do with the offense, the explosive plays that they had," Royal said, via Biggs. "The amount of times he throws the ball, that is always a receiver's dream to be in an offense that throws the ball a lot. Just putting us playmakers in position to make plays."
He should be a great fit in Gase's offense with Cutler slinging him the football and fills a big need at the position, but the amount of money he is guaranteed over the next two seasons is why he only received a C-plus grade.
Grade: C+
Signed Safety Antrel Rolle
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The Bears have struggled at the safety position for more than a decade, and they signed Rolle last Wednesday to help steady the position for the next few seasons.
Pro Football Talk reported the deal is for three years and worth $11.25 million:
"Antrel Rolle agrees to three year, $11.25M contract with Bears, per agent Drew Rosenhaus. $5M guaranteed.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 12, 2015"
He is a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler, but his play has declined in recent years. He struggled versus the run last season but was solid versus the pass. Despite his regression on the field in recent years, he is still confident in his abilities.
“They wanted me there. They wanted me badly, everything I can bring to their organization,” Rolle said, via Wright. “My skill level was still top notch, even at the age of 32.”
While the decline in his play over recent years is debatable, there is no denying what he brings as a leader to the organization.
Rolle was one of New York's team captains in 2013 and 2014, and head coach John Fox told Rolle he wants him to be himself in the locker room.
“Coach Fox told me, ‘I want you to go in. I want you to be yourself. I want you to let it loose the way you know how to let it loose,’” he said, via Wright. “That’s all I needed to hear because I’m ready to let it loose.”
In 10 NFL seasons, Rolle has registered 799 tackles, four sacks, 68 pass deflections, 26 interceptions, forced eight fumbles and scored four defensive touchdowns.
He may no longer be the same rangy free safety he once was, but considering the amount of money the Bears signed him for, he grades out as a solid signing for a Chicago team trying to rebuild its defense the right way.
Grade: B-
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Signed Guard Vladimir Ducasse
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The Bears added depth to their offensive line on Monday night by signing Ducasse to a one-year deal, via Biggs:
"#Bears have signed G Vladimir Ducasse to a 1-year contract. Has appeared in 63 games (11 starts) over last 5 seasons.
— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 16, 2015"
He was selected in the second round of the 2010 draft by the New York Jets and played four seasons in New York before signing a one-year deal with the Minnesota Vikings last offseason.
He appeared in 13 games last season and made six starts. According to Pro Football Focus, he played 417 snaps and finished with a minus-14.1 overall grade. He allowed four sacks, one quarterback hit and nine quarterback hurries.
According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, Ducasse's new contract includes $80,000 in fully guaranteed money.
He is just 27 years old, but he has struggled to make an impact in the NFL up to this point. He is strong at the point of attack, but he has looked lost at times on the field.
He is still relatively young and could develop into a solid player, but he will likely spend the offseason competing with Ryan Groy and Michael Ola to be the backup to both Matt Slauson and Kyle Long at guard.
Grade: D
Statistical information courtesy of NFL.com unless otherwise noted.
Matt Eurich is a Chicago Bears Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report and a member of the Pro Football Writers of America.
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