Free agency tracker: Chicago Bears add TE Gerald Everett and S Jonathan Owens

The Chicago Bears added tight end Gerald Everett and safety Jonathan Owens in free agency on Tuesday afternoon, according to several reports.

It started with Everett getting a two-year deal with a $12 million base value that can potentially have a max out at $14 million, including $6.1 fully guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Everett will be reuniting with Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. The two overlapped for one season in Seattle and then were together for four seasons on the Los Angeles Rams. Waldron was the Rams’ tight end coach in 2017 when Los Angeles selected Everett in the second round out of South Alabama.

Everett gives the Bears another receiving piece on offense. The 29-year-old tight end caught 51 passes for 411 yards and three touchdowns last season. Everett has eclipsed the 400 receiving mark in the last five seasons, and had a career best 555 yards and 58 receptions in 2022 with the Chargers. Everett has also been healthy and available throughout his career — having played in 107 games in seven seasons.

Outside of Cole Kmet, who caught 73 passes for 719 yards and six touchdowns, the Bears didn’t get any production out of the other tight ends. Robert Tonyan finished with just 11 receptions for 112 yards last season.

In the Chargers’ offense, Everett lined up in various spots on the field. According to Pro Football Focus, he played 570 total offensive snaps and here is the breakdown of where he lined up.

• Backfield: 26
• Inline: 307
• Slot: 167
• Wide: 70

As a blocker, Everett is coming off his three best seasons, according to PFF’s grades: 67.5, 76.1 and 76.8 (his career high). His best season came in Seattle while he was with Waldron.

Owens has played in 41 games in three seasons with the Texans (24) and Packers (17). Last season in Green Bay, the 28-year-old safety finished with 84 total tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and three passes defensed.

The former undrafted free agent out of Missouri Western State played 774 defensive snaps for the Packers in his one season in Green Bay. A majority of his snaps were at free safety (354). He also has 266 snaps in the box and 123 at the slot corner position.

Ownes also adds specials team experience. He played 233 total snaps on the third phase for Green Bay.

The Bears have every spot in their secondary filled, especially after signing Kevin Byard to a two-year, $15 million deal. So Owens gives the Bears depth in the secondary and would likely be the next man up if Byard or Jaquan Brisker were to get injured throughout the course of the season.

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