Source: Bears agree on contract with edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo
CHICAGO – The Bears spent big fixing the offensive front, adding Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson in trade last week and Drew Dalman in free agency.
They moved right to their next pressing need, finding an intimidator off the edge. The Bears have agreed on terms of a three-year contract with edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo, a league source confirmed.
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The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs was first to report the news.
Odeyingbo will sign a three-year contract worth up to $48 million, with $32 million guaranteed, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
The Bears were aggressive in pursuit of the 26-year old pass rusher, who spent his last four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He has 16.5 career sacks, including eight in 2023. He had three sacks, seven tackles for losses, two forced fumbles and 17 quarterback hits in 2024.
He’s also a massive human at 6-foot-6, 286 pounds, and should fit in well on the Bears defensive front. New coordinator Dennis Allen prefers big man up front and off the edge, as evidenced by the size of defensive ends from his time in New Orleans.
The Bears hand-picked this individual over some more highly touted pass rushers, likely because of upside, skill set and mesh. He will likely start opposite Montez Sweat at defensive end, with Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter likely operating inside.
The Bears desperately need edge rushers, both in top talent and volume, so it’s safe to assume they’ll continue to add to the position either through free agency or the NFL draft.
Odeyingbo has all the traits you’d want in an edge rusher, with a huge wingspan and athleticism that belies his size. The Bears are clearly betting on upside, that his best is yet to come. Allen and the defensive coaching staff will be charged with developing him and turning his pressures – he flustered quarterbacks on 10 percent of his pass-rush snaps – into sacks.
The Bears didn’t have to reset the market to get him, but he’s well paid and will come to Chicago with high expectations. If he can make game-changing plays and take double teams and chips away from Sweat, the Bears will consider this contract money well spent.