The Bears have agreed to sign Jesse James to a one-year deal. The tight end (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). It’s likely a low-cost, one-year deal for the veteran, allowing Chicago to evaluate him in camp with little risk. 
James was released by the Lions earlier this year, just halfway through his four-year, $22.6MM pact he signed back in 2019. Starting out as a fifth-round pick of the Steelers back in 2015, he flashed some potential in Pittsburgh, including a 423-yard campaign in 2018. Between 2016-2018, James managed 112 grabs for 1,113 yards and eight touchdowns.
That potential earned him the big contract from the Lions, but the Penn State product disappointed there. In 32 games (18 starts) over two years, James hauled in just 30 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns.
Outside of some reported interest from the Bills back in April, we haven’t heard much about James this offseason. Now, he’ll look to join a TE group that includes Jimmy Graham, Cole Kmet, and fellow newcomers J.P. Holtz and Jake Butt.
Nice #2 TE.
#3, kmet worked out with kittle all offseason and kittle is a huge bears fan therefore Cole kmet will be touchdown Jesus from this point in his career on out, I have a few rookie autos of his I’ll give you a really great deal…haha
He’s probably pretty happy to get away from the city and organization with all those Fords.
That was a touchdown.
But why?
This article fails to mention that tight after signing James the Lions turned around and drafted Hockenson to be their Day 1 starter at TE…
He’d have put up better stats had he actually played as sizable role as his salary suggested they originally had in mind for him…
Well, James also never played with the Lions. They just didn’t use him on the field. He’s not a game changer, but is a talented receiver, and as such can be pretty useful in the right offense. He’s not much of a blocker, though, which is why he would wasted as a second tight end who doesn’t see many passes. Hopefully Chicago gets James in on enough passing plays to get good value out of him. A pocket passer like Dalton might get better use than Trubisky did out of Graham, but it remains to be seen if the Bears can change their recent luck with tight ends.
Just an insurance move…if Kmet steps up, Butt shows anything and James looks good maybe they find a taker for Graham to clear salary space.
Graham isn’t going anywhere.
What would they do with that space anyway? There are no free agents left worth signing. And other than Robinson, there is no one that it’s imperative to extend at this moment. And that ship has sailed.
Holtz isn’t a newcomer. He’s been a Bear for a couple years.
Lol.
He’s actually the most tenured Bears TE.
The degree of laziness in fact checking in these articles is absurd.
It certainly won’t be corrected, take that to the bank.
Nagy and his affinity for the TE position.
Did they sign him so he could build them a custom motorcycle?
That must be it. Pace is rather good at shooting himself in the foot so there isn’t much need for a hired gun to do the job.
Solid signing.
He certainly can contribute as the No. 3 TE, and gives the team yet another post-up target in short yardage situations.
Has to be Leader for that spot in rotation.