The Chicago Bears announced the signing of veteran DE Turk McBride on Wednesday.
McBride signed a one-year deal a day after he visited Halas Hall.
The six-year veteran was drafted in the second round in 2007 by the Kansas City Chiefs.
He spent two seasons in Kansas City appearing in 25 games making 10 starts. In 2007, he played the entire season at defensive tackle, but he was moved to defensive end in 2008 where he made nine starts.
He was released by the Chiefs after the 2008 season. He then signed a deal with the Detroit Lions where he spent the next two seasons.
His most successful seasons came in Detroit where he appeared in 26 games making 12 starts (four at DT and eight at DE). He had a career high five sacks in 2010 with the Lions.
He then moved onto New Orleans where he appeared in just 15 games in two seasons making two starts.
In six seasons in the NFL the 27-year old Tennessee product has appeared in 66 games making 24 starts. He’s added 73 tackles, 9.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
The move makes sense for the Bears considering Julius Peppers, Corey Wootton and Shea McClellin are the top three ends. After that the Bears don’t have much depth at defensive end. Plus McBride can move over to defensive tackle if needed.
He isn’t going to be guaranteed a roster spot due to the fact that he has struggled with injuries as of late.
But the move adds insurance just in case Israel Idonije isn’t retained. Idonije signed one-year deal last off-season worth $2.5 million.
The Bears are working with very little salary cap space. According to league sources, they have just $5.6 million remaining.
A good amount of that has to go to rookies that are drafted in next month’s NFL Draft, backups, practice squad players and their own free agents that they choose to re-sign (Brian Urlacher, Kelvin Hayden, Jonathan Scott, Jason Campbell and Idonije).
The 32-year old Idonije could be brought back if he agrees to a reduced deal. The interest between Idonije and the Bears is there its just a matter of money at this point.
He and many other veterans haven’t had an easy time finding interest because of the cap issue around the league. But Idonije is still a solid lineman who can play any position on the line. He added 7.5 sacks in 2012.
Many key decisions will be made over the next few weeks.
Adding a veteran defensive end like Turk McBride is just an insurance move by the Bears at this point. Hopefully it proves to be a depth move rather than the departure of Idonije from the windy city.
Jake Perper is the owner and head writer for Bearsbacker.com. Follow him on Twitter, @Bearsbacker and on Facebook for up to the minute news about the Chicago Bears.
