The Bears have made three major moves along the offensive line this offseason, and their defensive front is also undergoing changes. Dayo Odeyingbo is headed to the Windy City, Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune reports.
This will be a three-year deal, Biggs adds. $48MM represents the overall value of the pact, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. $32MM is guaranteed in full, according to his colleague Ian Rapoport.
PFR’s No. 12 overall free agent, Odeyingbo will parlay his work in multiple D-line roles in Indianapolis into an upper-middle-class D-tackle deal in Chicago. Odeyingbo became a bit too pricey for the Colts to retain, as they already have D-line commitments to DeForest Buckner, Samson Ebukam and Grover Stewart; the team also has first-rounders Kwity Paye and Laiatu Latu under contract.
Throwing out his injury-delayed rookie season — which came after a pre-draft Achilles tear — Odeyingbo totaled 21 tackles for loss and 45 QB hits in his career. He posted eight sacks in 2023, playing 210 snaps on the inside (compared to 162 in 2024), as the Colts finished with 51 sacks – fifth-most in the league. The young D-end combined for eight sacks between the 2022 and ’24 seasons and has forced four fumbles over the past two years.
Odeyingbo will bring a power component opposite Montez Sweat‘s pure pass-rushing skillset, though the former has extensive experience sliding inside to rush on passing downs. Grady Jarrett is now in place on the Bears’ D-line as well, giving Sweat much better complementary rushers than he enjoyed last season. Bears 2024 trade acquisition Darrell Taylor is now a free agent.
No Bears player surpassed six sacks last season, as Sweat’s total dropped significantly from 2023. The additions of Odeyingbo and Jarrett should add some muscle to Chicago’s defense, thus helping Sweat receive better opportunities. Sweat’s presence also will free up Odeyingbo. After operating as an auxiliary pass rusher with the Colts, the Purdue alum will be expected — via this $16MM-per-year deal — to be a consistent producer. Odeyingbo’s three-year contract will allow for a potential second lucrative payday down the road, should he deliver on this initial accord.
Adam La Rose contributed to this post.
Not the sexiest edge rusher to bring in, but he’s a solid player who brings the size profile Dennis Allen likes.
Whoa!
I was really hoping for Trey, but hopefully we get the best out of him in Allen’s scheme. They must want to keep some cap room for Gordon/Thuney extensions. Or at least I hope so.
Poles is spending big trying to save his job. Big time overpay at a position easily filled with one of their three top 41 picks. Poor move.
lol
Flus told Poles to sign him
I wonder what all these morons will say when Poles signs his extension? Guess they’ll have to come up with a new lie.
Colts took Odeyingbo at #54, at least several rounds early, and they received only a middling draft grade. After missing his first season, he put up three mediocre seasons at Edge & wasn’t extended by the Colts, so we can conclude he was a bust for the Colts.
Bears will now pay that bust approximately $16m each of the next two seasons. Good thing they’ve invested so much draft capital instead of Edge!
you .
LOL Bears fans once again make the mistake of thinking activity in March = wins after Halloween.
Mid signing for a mid team. Holy overpay.
Solid signing, a 2 year deal for 32 mil cannot become an overpay, smh all that matters is all these deals off the books once Caleb and Rome need to be paid and they all will be
Must be a good signing for every Bear hater to come out and play. Bleat on stooges.
This, at face value is an ideal fit in the system run by Bears DC Dennis Allen. However, it’s also a signing based to a large extent on projection. And three years and a reported $48 million with $32 million guaranteed is an awful lot to base on a projection. The real alarming part so far is it appears Poles is following the scrip Ryan Pace took as he started to feel the heat. Just spending rather carelessly trying to save his job. Remember when Poles, as recently at season end, always spoke about building through the draft.
While I do agree Poles hasn’t been good at drafting, I would disagree with the spending carelessly take. All of these deals are extremely cap friendly and can be taken off the books rather easily after 2 years. No excuse for Poles to not come away with 3 immediate or at the very least future starters in this upcoming draft thou.
I don’t know why everybody thinks Poles job is in jeopardy. What makes you think he’s going anywhere? The time to fire him would have been BEFORE he picked the Head Coach not AFTER. I would think at least the Eberlose fiasco would have shown them that. Has Poles hit everything? No, Absolutely not. He’s made some horrible mistakes. From all intents and purposes Warren, Poles, Johnson and even McCaskey are all on the same page for once. Save his job? Really?
I agree he’s spending a lot but they are short term deals at least. And they still have four picks in the first 72 they can use to build through the draft. I give them credit for trying to plug holes at least.