Bears agree to deals with TE Gerald Everett and DB Jonathan Owens
The Bears made two more signings on Tuesday adding tight end Gerald Everett and defensive back Jonathan Owens. At the same time, the market for a Justin Fields trade appears to be more disappointing than Chicago was hoping it would be.
Everett inked a two-year $12 million deal with a guarantee of $6.1 million. The Los Angeles Rams picked him out of South Alabama with a 2nd round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He showed flashes of his size and athletic ability with LA but he was overshadowed by fellow TE Tyler Higbee and eventually moved to Seattle.
More on the #Bears adding TE Gerald Everett. He gets a two-year, $12M deal with $6.1M guaranteed, a source confirms.
He'll be the most productive backup TE the #Bears have had in a loooong time: https://t.co/JOj9IxY0QX— Patrick Finley (@patrickfinley) March 12, 2024
After putting up another decent season with the Seahawks, Everett moved back to LA, this time with the Chargers in 2022. He had a career year that season with 555 yards, 58 receptions, and four touchdowns. His numbers dropped a bit in 2023 as he became a free agent and eventually came to the Bears. Chicago is hoping his previous experience with new OC Shane Waldron, who coached him with both the Rams and Seahawks, should help him fit in to the offense and be an effective number two tight end behind Cole Kmet.
Owens went undrafted out of Missouri Western before signing with the Texans in 2019. The safety worked his way up slowly before becoming a starter in 2022 and he then moved to the Packers on a one-year deal before the 2023 season. He was a part of the much maligned Green Bay secondary which did start to play somewhat better late in the year.
The Bears agreed to a two-year contract with him and details weren’t immediately available but it’s expected he will be a backup this year. He has a reputation as a good tackler, piling up 84 with the Packers last season. Owens is probably best known as the husband of US gold-medal gymnast Simone Biles, so that alone might have fans flipping over this move.
The #Bears have agreed to terms with DB Jonathan Owens on a two-year deal, according to his agent @SunnyTheAgent. Owens had 84 tackles in his one season with the #Packers after spending the first four years of his career with the #Texans. pic.twitter.com/nR0Na0zpoV
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 12, 2024
News and Notes
- Wide receiver Darnell Mooney is moving on from the Bears signing a three-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons Tuesday. Mooney had a breakout season in 2021 with 1055 yards receiving and 81 catches. Unfortunately, those numbers dropped noticeably the next two seasons and Chicago let him become a free agent.
- The general assessment among numerous NFL media sources is the Bears are having a hard time getting a market for a potential Justin Fields trade. Two rumored landing spots are now gone with Russell Wilson signing in Pittsburgh and Kirk Cousins going to Atlanta. The Vikings signed Sam Darnold and look like they are going to draft a quarterback with their 1st round pick. At this rate, the Bears may have to trade him for a late round pick if they plan to take Caleb Williams, which appears to be the most likely scenario right now.
