The Chicago Bears have replaced recently released defensive lineman Julius Peppers with free agent Jared Allen.
Allen, 31, and the Bears reached an agreement on a four-year deal worth $31 million. Two years and $15.5 million of Allen’s deal is guaranteed which will give the Bears the ability to dump him should he continue to decline.
A former member of the Minnesota Vikings, Allen will stay within the NFC North.
“We’re really excited about adding Jared to our football team,” head coach Marc Trestman told the teams official website. “We know what his abilities bring to the table. Jared is certainly a very experienced player in the league. We believe he’s going to come in hungry and excited to be part of our football team, and we believe he’ll fit right in with the other new players that we’ve added and the guys that are already on the defensive side of the ball. I know that our defensive coaches are excited as well.”
The Bears have Lamarr Houston, Willie Young and Israel Idonije also available to provide pressure off the outside. Allen was able to accumulate 11.5 sacks a year ago.
Early in free agency he was hotly linked with the Denver Broncos who ended up signing DeMarcus Ware once he was released by Dallas.
