Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles entertained the idea of reuniting with Khalil Mack, but the former Bears edge rusher agreed to re-sign with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday morning.
Plan B turned into a player entering his prime, and Poles and the Bears are betting on the upside of Dayo Odeyingbo as he prepares to sign his second NFL contract.
Less than three hours after the team finalized a deal to sign center Drew Dalman, the Bears completed negotiations to add Odeyingbo on a three-year contract worth $48 million with $32 million guaranteed. It’s similar to the three-year, $42 million deal Dalman received in that both players received guarantees that basically cover the first two seasons.
Odeyingbo, 25, had only three sacks last season for the Indianapolis Colts, but he posted eight in 2023 and he had 17 quarterback hits each season. The Bears had a complete void opposite Montez Sweat at defensive end, and while Mack would have brought pedigree and proven production, he’s 34 and was coming off a six-sack season with the Chargers.
Odeyingbo, a second-round pick by the Colts out of Vanderbilt in 2021, was an interesting name at the NFL combine last month in Indianapolis. He generated considerable intrigue, but teams — including the Bears — had no idea how high Odeyingbo’s market value would get with so many teams flush with salary-cap space.
He will have to produce opposite Sweat to make it a win, but with nose tackle Andrew Billings returning from injury and the team believing that defensive tackle Gervon Dexter is improving, the line looks much better for new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who has worked with big, long ends like the 6-foot-6, 286-pound Odeyingbo.
The Bears had 40 sacks last season, led by Sweat’s 5½, and they want to see that number climb considerably. They lacked a starter opposite Sweat after releasing DeMarcus Walker, and while they will pay Odeyingbo basically double what Walker was set to earn, there’s reason to believe he’ll be worth it as he’s a solid run defender.
By agreeing to terms with a center and a defensive end, the Bears now have considerable flexibility when looking ahead to the draft. They could add another offensive lineman — potentially a left tackle — with the No. 10 pick, continue to add to the defensive line or go in almost any other direction.