The Chicago Bears’ approach to free agency is coming into focus now. It appears GM Ryan Poles is intent on filling out the offense with veteran weapons. It started with running back D’Andre Swift on the first day of negotiations. Now, after a long silence, the Bears struck again. This time, they’re adding experienced tight end Gerald Everett. He has ties to new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron from their time in Los Angeles together. While not a star, he has proven to be a reliable utility guy and a perfect #2 option alongside Cole Kmet. Getting him at $6 million is a strong deal for the Bears.
Everett has been a model of consistency for years, averaging at least 400 yards and three touchdowns in each of his past five seasons. He turns 30 years old in June but has no injury history. His mix of speed, hands, and route-running variety should make him a great complement to Kmet. Waldron loves running a lot of “12” personnel with two tight ends on the field. The Bears were losing Robert Tonyan to free agency, so they needed a replacement. This deal solves that problem.
The Chicago Bears keep narrowing their focus ahead of the draft.
Everett’s arrival makes the idea of drafting Georgia standout Brock Bowers unlikely at this point. It will be interesting to see where they strike next. Word is they’ve been sniffing around the wide receiver market but haven’t landed anybody yet. One can surmise what they do will have a direct influence on their direction with the #9 overall pick in the 1st round. Adding a receiver or a pass rusher could lead them to focus on the opposite with that selection. Poles tends to let the market steer things.
The bottom line is Everett helps the Chicago Bears get better. He would be a starter for several teams at tight end around the league, so getting him as a second option is a big win. His biggest strength is the ability to make plays after the catch. The tight end runs hard, has a lethal stiff arm, and is difficult to bring down. Waldron will undoubtedly find ways to exploit that. He was actually Everett’s first tight ends coach when he got to the NFL. That familiarity should make this a fun addition.
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