NFL Free Agency Roundup: Bellamy to N.Y., Lions to Sign All the Ex-Patriots, Honey Badger Chasing Ring, More

It’s been a long day around these parts, but if you haven’t caught up with the Bears’ most recent reported signings – cornerback Buster Skrine and running back Mike Davis – I would encourage you to do so while you have the time. You never know what news is coming next down the pipeline.

Here are some things that are happening elsewhere around the league.

• The glue guy in the Bears’ locker room is taking his talents out east:

This deal is expected to come in at 2 years, $7M max, source said. He gets $2.75M fully guaranteed at signing. https://t.co/cQlChan6B4

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2019

• Wide receiver/special teams ace Joshua Bellamy is signing with the New York Jets. It’s a two-year pact that includes $2.75 million in guarantees. Not bad for a player who was at the end of the Bears’ depth chart playing on a low-round tender last season. After watching how Bellamy helped bring guys together on a rebuilding squad in Chicago, perhaps ex-Bears OCs Adam Gase and Dowell Loggains knew how valuable that could be for a Jets squad that would love to mimic what the Bears did last season. Both coaches have experience with Bellamy, who was one of the longest-tenured Bears before his departure. And while we’ll always have Club Dub, hopefully Bellamy leaves his playlist behind for the next-man-up.
• Defensive backs are getting paiiiiiiiiiiiiid:

Former Texans’ S Tyrann Mathieu intends to sign a three-year, $42 million deal with the Kansas City Chiefs, per a league source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2019

The #Titans are signing S Kenny Vaccaro to a 4-year deal worth $26M with $11.5M in guarantees, source said. The one-year prove-it deal pays off.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019

.@Broncos expected to sign DB Kareem Jackson to three-year, $33 million deal. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/cPSxmHdyxI

— NFL (@NFL) March 12, 2019

• The Bears will see Tyrann Mathieu and his new teammates at some point during the 2019 season when the Chiefs come in to town. Kansas City’s secondary looks a bit tougher with the Honey Badger roaming back there than it did at the end of the postseason when Tom Brady was carving it up en route to an overtime win in the AFC Championship Game.
• Meanwhile, one of the Bears’ NFC North rivals just loss a key member of their starting defense:

Former Vikings’ LB Anthony Barr intends to sign with the NY Jets, per league source. Jets get a pass rusher.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2019

• Anthony Barr was a solid linebacker in the Vikings’ 4-3 scheme, so I’ll be curious where he lines up in the Jets’ 3-4 defense. Perhaps he has some pass-rushing skills that went under-utilized in Minnesota. If so, then that’s a quality signing for a rebuilding Jets team.
• Elsewhere in the division, the Lions have been ridiculously busy. In addition to signing wide receiver Danny Amendola before the “legal tampering” portion of free agency could begin, the team is reported to be in agreement with ex-Patriots pass-rusher Trey Flowers and former Steelers tight end Jesse James. Detroit has missed the postseason in each of the last two years, so aggressive spending was surely going to be something they’d do this week.
• But hey, they’re not alone:

The @49ers will sign LB Kwon Alexander (@kwon) to a 4-year, $54 million deal. (via @RapSheet) pic.twitter.com/0Hr5BSPcvH

— NFL (@NFL) March 11, 2019

• Cross Terrell Suggs off the list of potential reserve edge rushers who could be Bears fits:

Terrell Suggs plans to sign with Cardinals, NFL Network reports https://t.co/n2M5XLRahi pic.twitter.com/N5bAmBmrHJ

— WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore (@wbaltv11) March 11, 2019

• It’s a home-coming of sorts for the 36-year-old Suggs, who played his college ball at Arizona State. Suggs was one of the most decorated defenders on the market. His résumé includes the following awards: 2003 AP Defensive Rookie of the Year, 2011 Defensive Player of the Year, seven Pro Bowl appearances, one first-team All-Pro nomination, and a Super Bowl ring. If Suggs isn’t headed to Canton as soon as he is eligible, something is wrong with the process.
• Good thing the Bears have their slot cornerback situation under control:

NEWS: Source said #Eagles and #Buccaneers have agreed on a trade on DeSean Jackson.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 11, 2019

• Jackson represents a potential deep threat any time he is on the field. That’s the last thing the Eagles needed – more firepower.
• Well, at least Nick Foles won’t be around to pick on the Bears’ secondary:

The #Jaguars had Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles as their top target. Per @MikeGarafolo he gets 4 years and $88M. Large.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 11, 2019

• I understand that quarterback salaries are always going to have a larger-than-life feel to them, but who was bidding against the Jaguars to push Foles’ price to this stratosphere?
• Seems like a good get for Buffalo:

The AFC East's highest-graded running back in 2018, Frank Gore, stays in the AFC East. https://t.co/2GMtZrpg5x

— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) March 11, 2019