Chicago Bears sign inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman to a 3 year deal

The Chicago Bears have announced that they have signed inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman to a three year contract. Patrick Finley of the Chicago Sun Times is reporting that Freeman's three year deal is for $12 million with $6 million guaranteed and another $2 million available in incentives.

Last year with the Indianapolis Colts, the soon to be 30 year old Freeman racked up 112 tackles, 3 sacks, 4 tackles for loss, 6 quarterback hits, 1 interception, 2 passes defended and a fumble recovery. Freeman is 6', 240 pounds and he's started all 57 games he has appeared in the last 4 years.

Freeman will be paired up with the other brand new Bears' ILB, Danny Trevathan. So in one offseason, Chicago GM Ryan Pace has upgraded their ILB position from the struggling Shea McClellin and Christian Jones to the professional tandem of Trevathan and Freeman.

Now that Bears' defensive coordinator Vic Fangio has his Mike and Jack ILBs set, the team may not look to address the position in the 1st round of the NFL Draft.

Here'a a little info about Freeman from the Bears' press release.

His 478 tackles (according to press box statistics) are tied for sixth in the NFL over the last four seasons and Freeman led the Colts in defensive stops in 2012 (145) and 2013 (126) and ranked second on the team in 2014 (95) and 2015 (112).

Freeman is one of three NFL linebackers since 2012 to record at least eight forced fumbles and four interceptions along with Lavonte David and Thomas Davis

In six postseason contests (five starts), Freeman has 54 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and one fumble recovery.
The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent in 2012 after playing three seasons (2009-2011) with the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL.

And then there's this interesting nugget.

Jerrell Freeman deal with #Bears undoubtedly raised some eyebrows inside #Colts building. Same deal they offered him before free agency.

— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) March 12, 2016

What are your thoughts on the Bears picking up Freeman.