The Bears are releasing tight end Gerald Everett (per ESPN’s Adam Schefter) and defensive end DeMarcus Walker (per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo). The team has confirmed the moves via social media.
Everett’s release saves $5.5MM against the Bears’ 2025 salary cap with $1MM in dead money. Cutting Walker saves an additional $5.25MM with just under $700k in dead money. Chicago entered the day with $69MM in cap space, per OverTheCap, and now has more than $80MM ahead of free agency next month.
The Bears were expected to move on from Everett after he underperformed the two-year, $12MM deal he signed last offseason. He recorded just eight catches for 36 yards and zero touchdowns – all career-lows – despite appearing in all 17 regular-season games. The eight-year veteran will now join plethora of experienced tight ends in free agency and may have to take a contract close to the veteran minimum to rebuild his value next season.
Walker, however, gave the Bears a solid return on the three-year, $21MM deal he signed in 2023. He appeared in all 34 games (29 starts) in the last two seasons with seven sacks and 16 tackles for loss. His consistent production could have justified his $5.9MM cap hit in 2025, but the Bears opted to move on from the 30-year-old as one of their first moves under new head coach Ben Johnson. Walker will likely draw interest in free agency from teams looking for pass-rushing depth.
Both players have bounced around the league, but each has been productive at points. The Bears were Everett’s fourth team, while they were Walker’s fourth as well. Both players were 2017 second-round picks — Everett with the Rams, Walker the Broncos — who have now played into their 30s. Each could certainly land another gig, though Walker might have a better shot given how underwhelming Everett’s latest season under Shane Waldron was.
Everett followed Waldron from the Rams to the Seahawks, only straying from the position coach-turned-coordinator’s path during a two-year Chargers stay. Prior to his dud in Chicago, Everett had been fairly consistent. He had posted between 400 and 480 receiving yards in four of his previous five seasons, deviating in 2022 via a career-best 555-yard showing to help the Chargers reach the playoffs. This is also not a strong tight end free agent class, which should at least give Everett a chance at a one-year accord.
The Broncos did not re-sign Walker in 2020, after he had operated as a 3-4 defensive end and OLB, but the Florida State product ripped off a seven-sack season for the Titans in 2022. This helped him score the Bears pact, and he has totaled 16 QB hits in each of his past three seasons. Although being a surefire starter post-Chicago may not be a lock for Walker, he probably has a path to another notable role after operating as a regular Bears first-stringer during his two-year stay.
Sam Robinson contributed to this post.
No surprise with this announcement. However, I am surprised that Ryan Bates wasn’t included. Bears can create an additional $4M in savings by moving on from the veteran OLineman and incur no dead money in the process. Often injured and hardly played this season. A real disappointment. Cost the Bears a fifth rounder. I’m sure it’s coming. At least it should be.
Perhaps the Bears will keep Ryan around if he offers the organization discounts at the Bates Motel.
Just because they haven’t cut Ryan Bates doesn’t mean they will keep him.
They could always axe him at a later date.
If the Bears keep him. They have a plan for him.
He’ll probably either be gone soon or right after the draft. They can lose his whole 4 million right now so I doubt after they add to the O line this year he’ll be here. He’s a holdover from the old staff but he is a Poles guy. Poles tried twice to get him but he should have no future here. He’s a bad C and a below average Guard. The only thing he has going for him is he can be bad at 3 positions.
Everett was utterly useless with bears. Maybe he’ll have a more juicy role for a team like colts broncos jets or rams
So was Cole Kmet last year. And I think Kmet is a stud TE. But, thy hardly used TE’s in passing game. Me thinks Williams threw way too much to Allen instead of using the TE’s in the passing game. Should be different story this coming season. Hopefully.
Yeah it was worth paying Kmet all that money to disappear last year wasn’t it? I think I saw him on a Milk Carton. Bears don’t need a high priced EDGE. They can draft one who becomes that. Also I believe the Bears can help their pass rush just by hiring Dennis Allen. Eberlose’ s rush 4 every time wasn’t exactly conducive to fooling the opposition. The Bears can help their pass rush just by using their linebackers better, and drafting or signing a decent DT in FA. Billings and Dexter are fine against the run but the Bears best pass rush was when Walker moved inside on 3rd down. Sounds like Allen has plans for Gordon to be some kind of super weapon which would have never occurred to an idiot like Eberlose.
@sentinelATl. Chargers could take him back with Allen. Chargers will take a look because he doesn’t count against the comp pick formula plus he had his best years with Herbert.
Chargers could take him back but Ladd is the de facto guy. IIRC Everett thrived when both Mike Williams and Allen were injured but now he’d split targets with QJ and Ladd who easily outpace him
If anyone needs TE help it’s the teams I mentioned
Releasing Walker clears a roster spot for Myles Garrett…on the off chance he isn’t serious about wanting to play for a title contender.
The Bears are not getting Myles Garrett. The price would be way too steep.
Just draft one and develop him.
Does Richard Dent have a grandson the Bears could draft and develop?
With Booker, Maybe Taylor and 1 of those first 3 picks I’m comfortable with what they will have. What I won’t be comfortable with is trading # 10 for another 32 year old savior who won’t be that here. I’d even re sign Khalil Mack before I’d do that. That would be a Jed Hoyer shiny object move.
Buddy of mine who’s a massive Bears fan went on and on before the season about how Everett was going to be Caleb’s under the radar favorite target and how unstoppable Everett and Kmet will be with everyone being more focused on Moore, Allen, Rome, and Swift.
Did he say that in a bar? Around closing time I’m betting. LOL