Offense was the priority in free agency for the Chicago Bears, but the signing of outside linebacker Aaron Lynch could prove to be one of the biggest moves of the offseason.
Ryan Pace addressed the Lynch addition at the NFL owners meetings on Tuesday and said his familiarity with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio was a big part of the decision to sign him.
“He’s a very talented player, and Vic knows him well from drafting him in San Francisco. … This free agency, we didn’t feel like there was a ton of outside linebackers, but Aaron Lynch stood out in a number of ways,” Pace said via the Chicago Tribune.
Lynch played his rookie season under Fangio’s watch and produced six sacks that year. He bested that number in 2015 with 6.5 sacks and was considered an ascending young pass rusher.
It’s been all downhill since with only 2.5 sacks the last two seasons. But his decline in production didn’t sway Pace from signing him.
“He definitely has the traits to be a very productive pass rusher. You see signs of it, and he’s very comfortable in Vic’s scheme. Vic knows him inside and out. So to get him here on kind of a one-year contract, kind of in a motivated state, we’re excited about that. We think there’s a lot of upside in that transaction,” Pace said.
I expect Lynch to be key to our success this year. I would not be surprised to see him get 8 sacks or so. Even if we draft a rookie like Edmunds he will have a lot to learn. Will potentially take a rookie mid-season to unseat Lynch.
I expect Lynch to be key to our success this year. I would not be surprised to see him get 8 sacks or so. Even if we draft a rookie like Edmunds he will have a lot to learn. Will potentially take a rookie mid-season to unseat Lynch.
Bringing Acho back and signing Lynch is certainly a preface to the possibility of taking Edmunds. It makes sense.
Little disappointed we did not do a structure where we had a 2 or 3 year option even if it cost a little more guarantee. He will do well and we will probably lose him.
Little disappointed we did not do a structure where we had a 2 or 3 year option even if it cost a little more guarantee. He will do well and we will probably lose him.
He's on the one year "get paid for how good you play plan". I like his $3.7 mil cap hit so I'm OK with that. If he tears it up like Hicks did we extend him.
You gotta admit that's not a bad deal if the guy can throw up some decent pressure and get some sacks. Buffalo threw nearly 3x that guaranteed at Trent Murphy on a 3 years deal. Lynch is two years younger and a similar type OLB. So if we looked at Murphy too it wouldn't have been just a little more. It's over $6.5 mil more.
Little disappointed we did not do a structure where we had a 2 or 3 year option even if it cost a little more guarantee. He will do well and we will probably lose him.
He's on the one year "get paid for how good you play plan". I like his $3.7 mil cap hit so I'm OK with that. If he tears it up like Hicks did we extend him.
You gotta admit that's not a bad deal if the guy can throw up some decent pressure and get some sacks. Buffalo threw nearly 3x that guaranteed at Trent Murphy on a 3 years deal. Lynch is two years younger and a similar type OLB. So if we looked at Murphy too it wouldn't have been just a little more. It's over $6.5 mil more.
Yeah but you can structure a longer term deal with little or no guarantee that has a higher salary even though no guarantee. Then if he makes it, you continue at the higher salary. Keeps him on the team. He doesn't do well, you release and it becomes a one year deal. But at least it keeps him from hitting the market if you want to keep him.