The new Chicago Bears regime made its first move in free agency Monday, reportedly coming to terms with Baltimore Ravens linebacker Pernell McPhee on a five-year contract worth nearly $40 million, including $16 million in guaranteed money.
The transaction doesn't necessarily qualify as splashy, considering McPhee has started just six games over his four-year career. But with the Bears' move to a 3-4 front under new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the acquisition of McPhee was necessary and displays the new regime's commitment to returning Chicago to its former glory on defense.
"Let's face the facts," Bears general manager Ryan Pace said in January during his introductory news conference. "The weather here, I'm experiencing it right now, it can be brutal. To win in that environment you've got to be able to run the ball. You've got to be able to play tough defense. When you think about the Chicago Bears' identity over the years, it's tough, physical defense, and we're going to get back to that."
McPhee starts the movement.
A fifth-round pick of the Ravens out of Mississippi State in 2011, McPhee brings versatility to Chicago's new scheme. He worked as both an end and tackle in Baltimore's 4-3 looks and also lined up as an end in 3-4 looks. McPhee put together a breakout season in 2014 and ranked second among all 3-4 outside linebackers, according to Pro Football Focus, with an overall grade of plus-26.0. As a pass-rusher, McPhee ranked No. 3 behind Justin Houston and Elvis Dumervil.
The Bears plan to play McPhee mostly at outside linebacker, but he's capable of contributing in pass-rushing situations at nose and defensive end. McPhee collected a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2014 and also tallied 31 tackles. In addition, McPhee contributed 64 quarterback pressures while notching 24 quarterback hits.
It appears McPhee is just Step 1 in Chicago's plan to utilize free agency to address needs up front.
The club is also expected to make a push for Denver Broncos free-agent defensive tackle Terrance Knighton, with ESPN's Josina Anderson reporting the Bears have "serious interest" in bringing in Knighton to anchor the interior of Fangio's 3-4 front.
Knighton played the last two seasons for new Bears head coach John Fox in Denver, where he started all 32 regular-season games over that span. Knighton finished 2014 with 30 tackles and two sacks, but he's regarded as one of the better run-stopping defensive tackles in the league.
McPhee spent last season as a backup outside linebacker behind Pro Bowlers Terrell Suggs and Dumervil, but McPhee participated in approximately half of Baltimore's snaps. He joins Jared Allen, Willie Young and Lamarr Houston as potential outside linebackers for the Bears. McPhee and Houston are the club's only known commodities at the position, as Young and Allen have never played outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme.
Rising fourth-year man Shea McClellin is another option at the position.
Pace and Fox are looking to turn around a defense that ranked 30th overall in each of the past two seasons -- and 31st in 2014 and 30th in 2013 in points allowed -- so you can count the acquisition of McPhee as just the beginning of what's expected to be a flurry of moves on defense in free agency.
With just 17 career sacks over four NFL seasons, McPhee doesn't necessarily jump off the page as a major acquisition for the Bears. But if you look deeper, McPhee's versatility, size (6-foot-3, 280 pounds) and athleticism hint at the type of defense Chicago is looking to build, while speaking to Pace's ability to identify and land talented players entering the peak of their careers.