ESPN is reporting that five-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers of the Carolina Panthers has agreed to a six-year, $72 million with the Chicago Bears.
The deal calls for Peppers to earn $40 million over the first three years, according to ESPN, which cited a source it did not identify. Agent Carl Carey did not return messages and the Bears declined comment before a Friday afternoon news conference.
The Bears are without a first and second round pick in this years draft, so the only way they can get better is through free agency.
That is why the Bears signing of Peppers make sense. They had to do something quickly to get better and Peppers does that, at a contract that is a little cheaper than I thought it would be.
The Bears also announced that they have signed running back Chester Taylor who played for NFC North rivals Minnesota Vikings last season. Taylor agreed to a four-year contract worth $12.5 million with $7 million guaranteed.
Taylor backed up All-Pro Adrian Peterson for NFC North champion Minnesota. He’ll challenge Matt Forte for time in the Bears backfield after Chicago’s hallmark power running game slipped last season.
