Bears sign Jimmy Graham to two-year deal

The Bears have signed tight end Jimmy Graham to a two-year, $16 million deal with $9 million guaranteed, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday.

Graham, who turns 34 in November, is in the twilight of his career, but he brings a Pro Bowl resume to a group of Bears tight ends that didn’t excel in the 2019 season. He has spent the last two seasons with the Packers, tallying 93 catches, 1,083 yards and 5 touchdowns in that time frame.

The five-time Pro Bowler is coming off of his worst season statistically since his rookie year, having caught 38 passes for 447 yards and 3 touchdowns for Green Bay in 2019. He is better known for his seasons with the Saints and Seahawks, where he made a name for himself as one of the best tight ends in the league.

Though the signing of Graham came out of nowhere, many did expect Ryan Pace to address the Bears’ need at tight end position in some capacity. He’s not as athletic as he used to be, and his ability to create separation isn’t quite as consistent anymore. However, he still offers a great frame at 6-foot-7 and 265 pounds and should bring some more talent to their group of tight ends. He also hasn’t missed a single game in four seasons.

Between Graham and Trey Burton, the Bears will be spending roughly $16 million on their two starting tight ends. The signing will not count against their compensatory pick formula, as Graham was released by Green Bay last Thursday.