The Bears missed out on the top tight ends in free agency, but picked up former all-pro Jimmy Graham, ESPN reported. They agreed on a two-year, $16 million deal with $9 million guaranteed.
Graham, 33, had 38 catches, 447 yards and three touchdowns for the Packers last season. That ordinary season is a bit better than production the Bears got out of every single tight end on the roster — 46 catches for 416 yards.
The reasons for the Bears’ tight end struggles, of course, started with Trey Burton, who was hampered for eight games and inactive in eight more as he failed to recover after sports hernia surgery. His 14 catches for 84 yards, strangely, made him the most productive tight end on the roster.
Adam Shaheen, a former second-round pick, was no better. In eight games, he caught nine passes for 74 yards. It was clear, by the time he was placed on Injured Reserve, that he’d lost the trust of the Bears coaching staff.
General manager Ryan Pace said during the NFL Scouting Combine that it was no secret the team was interested in tight ends. The Bears checked in on Falcons star Austin Hooper, but he proved too expensive and agreed to terms with the Browns on Monday.
Graham is a five-time Pro Bowl player and one time first-team all-pro. His best season came in 2011, when he caught 99 passes for 1,310 yards. Two years later he had 86 for 1,215. Pace had a front-row view to both seasons as a Saints executive.
