The Chicago Bears have signed four-time All-Pro defensive end Jared Allen to a four-year contract on Wednesday morning, per Adam Schefter of ESPN. Reports in recent days had talked about Allen weighing a few offers including one from the Seattle Seahawks, but ultimately it was Chicago taking the day.
Jared Allen signs with Bears, per report
Chicago has been busy this offseason, now stealing a top player from a division rival.
According to Schefter, the deal is potentially worth $32 million that can void to three years worth $24 million with $15.5 million in fully-guaranteed money.
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Allen was not retained by the Minnesota Vikings despite another successful season that included 11.5 sacks, six passes deflected, and 52 tackles. It was his seventh straight season of recording at least 11 sacks, and the 31-year-old Allen is 12th on the all-time sack list with 128.5 in his career.
He turns 32 in April, but Allen has yet to show any signs of slowing down. He led the NFL in sacks in 2011 when he had a career-high 22 of them and that earned him All-Pro honors for the fourth time in his career. He is also a five-time Pro Bowler.
The Bears are coming off of a disappointing season and defensive performance in 2013 that led to a revamped defensive line. They opted to let Henry Melton hit free agency while signing Lamarr Houston away from the Oakland Raiders with a five-year deal. Houston and Allen will now bookend each other, giving Chicago one of the best end combinations in the NFL.
The Bears finished 30th in scoring defense and total defense last season.
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