2015 NFL Free Agency: Chicago Bears news and rumors for Thursday, March 12

Here's what we know so far about the Chicago Bears.

Outside linebacker Pernell McPhee signed a 5 year deal worth $38.75 million, with $15.5 million of it guaranteed. The Bears will use him as an OLB in their base 3-4, but move him around in sub packages. Our story here.

Chicago will utilize last year's big free agent signing, Lamarr Houston (pictured above), in a similar manner. The Bears signed him to play left defensive end in Mel Tucker's 4-3 defense in 2014, but while in Oakland, he played on both ends of the line and he stood up in a 2 point stance on occasion.

Late last night the deals were announced for safety Antrel Rolle and wide receiver Eddie Royal. Rolle received a three year deal worth $11,250,000, with $4,900,000 guaranteed and this season he will have a base of $1 million and a bonus of $3.9 million. Our story on Rolle is right here. Specific terms on Royal's 3 year contract are not known at this time, but once announced we'll pass it along. Here's our story on Royal's signing.

EDIT: Royal's numbers are in...

#Bears WR Eddie Royal 3-yr deal: $15 million total value with $10 million guaranteed.

— Brad Biggs (@BradBiggs) March 12, 2015

The Bears met with Kansas City safety Ron Parker yesterday, but nothing has been signed. The 27 year old Parker is an ascending player and he would be good to pair up with the veteran Rolle.

Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton is still available. The hang up with him seems to be that he views himself as a 3 down player, while many teams only see him as a run stuffer.

Chicago is still in play for inside linebacker Mason Foster, formerly of the Buccaneers. And speaking of the Bucs, did you realize they now have Major Wright, Henry Melton and Chris Conte all under contract?

Here is the list of available free agents that the Bears could be interested in (from Rotoworld).

Tight Ends

1. Julius Thomas (Signed 5-year, $46M deal with JAX)
2. Jordan Cameron
3. Charles Clay (Transition Tagged)
4. Jermaine Gresham
5. Niles Paul (Re-signed 3-year, $6M deal with WAS)
6. Virgil Green (Re-signed 3-year, $8.4M deal with DEN)
7. Rob Housler
8. Owen Daniels (Signed 3-year, $12M deal with DEN)
9. Lance Kendricks (Re-signed 4-year, $18.5M deal with STL)
10. Zach Miller
11. James Casey
12. Scott Chandler
13. Tony Moeaki
14. Lee Smith (Signed 3-year, $9.1M deal with OAK)
15. Anthony Fasano
16. Matt Spaeth (Re-signed 2-year, $2.2M deal with PIT)
17. Dante Rosario
18. Jacob Tamme
19. Daniel Fells
20. Ed Dickson (Re-signed 3-year, $6.8M deal with CAR)
21. David Ausberry

Interior Defensive Linemen

1. Ndamukong Suh (Signed 6-year, $114M deal with MIA)
2. Nick Fairley
3. Terrance Knighton
4. Dan Williams (Signed undisclosed deal with OAK)
5. Jared Odrick (Signed 5-year, $42.5M deal with JAX)
6. Stephen Paea (Signed four-year, $21M deal with WAS)
7. C.J. Mosley
8. Henry Melton (Signed 1-year deal with TB)
9. Vince Wilfork
10. Darnell Dockett (Signed 2-year, $7.5M deal with SF)
11. Cory Redding (Signed 2-year, $6M deal with ARZ)
12. Randy Starks
12. Barry Cofield
13. Letroy Guion
14. Corey Peters (Signed 3-year, $10.5M deal with ARZ)
15. B.J. Raji
16. Kevin Williams
17. Kenrick Ellis
18. Ahtyba Rubin
19. Tom Johnson (Re-signed 3-year, $7M deal with MIN)
20. Jarvis Jenkins
21. Alan Branch
22. Alex Carrington
23. Dwan Edwards (Re-signed 2-year, $4M deal with CAR)
24. Pat Sims
25. Tommy Kelly
26. Mike Patterson
27. Ricky Jean-Francois (Signed 3-year, $9M deal with WAS)
28. Kendall Langford (Signed 4-year, $17.2M deal with IND)
29. Chris Canty
30. Leger Douzable
31. Karl Klug
32. Colin Cole (Re-signed 1-year, $1.05M deal with CAR)
33. Kevin Vickerson
34. Tyson Alualu (Re-signed 2-year, $6M deal with JAX)
35. Demarcus Dobbs
36. Vance Walker
37. Andre Fluellen
38. Fili Moala
39. Nick Hayden
40. Stephen Bowen

Inside Linebackers

1. Brandon Spikes
2. David Harris (Re-signed 3-year, $21.5M deal with NYJ)
3. Mason Foster
4. Rolando McClain
5. Nate Irving
6. Rey Maualuga (Re-signed 3-year, $15M deal with CIN)
7. Curtis Lofton (Signed 3-year, $18M deal with OAK)
8. A.J. Hawk (Signed 2-year, $3.25M deal with CIN)
9. Arthur Moats (Re-signed 3-year, $7.5M deal with PIT)
10. Jamari Lattimore
11. Joe Mays
12. Steven Johnson (Re-signed 1-year, $785K deal with DEN)
13. Colin McCarthy
14. Brad Jones (Signed 2-year, $2.9M deal with PHI)
15. Dane Fletcher
16. Darryl Sharpton
17. Kelvin Sheppard (Signed undisclosed deal with MIA)
18. Desmond Bishop
19. Mark Herzlich (Re-signed 2-year deal with NYG)
20. Jasper Brinkley
21. Josh Bynes (Re-signed 2-year, $1.81M deal with DET)
22. Josh Mauga (Re-signed 3-year, $8M deal with KC)

Cornerbacks

1. Darrelle Revis (Signed 5-year, $70M deal with NYJ)
2. Byron Maxwell (Signed 6-year, $63M deal with PHI)
3. Brandon Flowers (Re-signed 4-year, $36.4M deal with SD)
4. Tramon Williams
5. Antonio Cromartie
6. Buster Skrine (Signed 4-year, $25M contract with NYJ)
7. Kareem Jackson (Re-signed 4-year, $34M deal with HOU)
8. Davon House (Signed 4-year, $25M deal with JAX)
9. Chris Culliver
10. Perrish Cox
11. Patrick Robinson
12. Cary Williams (Signed 3-year, $18M deal with SEA)
13. Jimmy Wilson
14. Rashean Mathis
15. Brandon Browner
16. Alan Ball
17. Walter Thurmond III (Signed 1-year, $3.25M deal with PHI)
18. Terence Newman
19. Charles Tillman
20. Tarell Brown
21. Brice McCain (Signed 2-year, $5.5M deal with MIA)
22. Darius Butler (Re-signed 2-year, $5M deal with IND)
23. Shareece Wright
24. Cortland Finnegan (Retired)
25. Sterling Moore
26. Bradley Fletcher
27. Kyle Wilson
28. Josh Wilson
29. Robert McClain
30. Will Blackmon (Signed 1-year, $950K deal with SEA)
31. Anthony Levine (Re-signed 2-year, $2.4M deal with BAL)
32. Chris Cook
33. Ike Taylor
34. Brandon Harris
35. Carlos Rogers
36. Mike Jenkins (Re-signed 1-year deal with TB)
37. Antoine Cason
38. E.J. Biggers
39. Chykie Brown

Safeties

1. Devin McCourty (Re-signed 5-year, $47.5M deal with NE)
2. Rahim Moore
3. Tyvon Branch (Signed 1-year, $2M deal with KC)
4. Antrel Rolle (Signed 3-year, $11.25M deal with CHI)
5. Louis Delmas
6. Marcus Gilchrist
7. Stevie Brown
8. Dawan Landry
9. Nate Allen
10. Da'Norris Searcy (Signed 4-year, $23.75M deal with TEN)
11. Mike Adams (Re-signed 2-year deal with IND)
12. Ron Parker
13. Dashon Goldson
14. LaRon Landry
15. Darian Stewart
16. Bernard Pollard
17. Danieal Manning
18. Jeron Johnson
19. George Wilson
20. Dwight Lowery
21. Major Wright (Re-signed 2-year, $3M deal with TB)
22. Brandon Meriweather
23. Kendrick Lewis
24. Kurt Coleman
25. Chris Conte
26. Usama Young
27. Jeromy Miles
28. C.J. Spillman
29. Quintin Demps
30. Sergio Brown (Signed 3-year, $7M deal with JAX)
31. Thomas DeCoud
32. Taylor Mays

What are your thoughts on free agency so far?