Bears To Sign OLB Pernell McPhee

The Bears are making an expensive addition to their pass rush.

Pernell McPhee, who emerged as a very good situational pass rusher last season in Baltimore, will sign a new contract to play in Chicago. The Baltimore Sun reports that it’s a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, including nearly $16 million guaranteed. That’s less than the $8 million to $10 million a year that McPhee was reportedly seeking, but it’s still a good deal for a guy who is not an every-down player.

The 26-year-old McPhee had 7.5 sacks last year while playing mostly in passing situations. He’ll surely help Chicago’s pass rush this year, but he’ll need to improve against the run if he’s going to be worth the money the Bears are paying him.

And just like that the Defense gets slightly better. I said on Friday after the Brandon Marshall trade that the goal for the Bears should be all about getting younger, well in walks Pernell McPhee at just 26 years old. Not a terrible contract either. Obviously the concern is his knees (he was fully healthy last year) but find me a guy in the NFL who doesn’t have at least a question mark here and there. They don’t exist, and if they do, you have to pay them over 100 million dollars. Not to mention if things go south he and Lamarr Houston can just be the bad knee guys together and we can all stick our heads in the over, not like things could get worse from last year right?