The Bears haven’t been particularly active as they’ve waded into free agency, but new general manager Ryan Poles made one big splash by agreeing to a three-year, $40.5 million deal for defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi.
But that contract isn’t happening.
The Bears rescinded their offer to Ogunjobi after he failed a physical Thursday and quickly moved on to contingencies. Poles described it as a difficult-but-necessary decision in the interest of “protecting” the Bears.
“Larry Ogunjobi embodies everything we are looking for in a Bear... [but] after a standard and thorough physical and medical review with Larry yesterday afternoon, our medical team deemed him to have failed his physical.”
Ogunjobi, 27, was a necessity as the Bears planned for a future without starting defensive linemen Akiem Hicks (presumably headed elsewhere in free agency), Eddie Goldman (cut) and Bilal Nichols (signed with Raiders).
Ogunjobi put up a career year for the Bengals last season with seven sacks and 49 tackles while starting 16 games. He has played 76 of a possible 81 regular-season games in his five-year career.
However, he suffered a foot injury that knocked him out of the playoffs in the Bengals’ opening game against the Raiders. He tweeted Jan. 20 that his surgery was a success.
Poles’ statement said specifically the Bears wouldn’t be signing Ogunjobi “today,” and that phrasing could leave open the possibility that something could still come together. Perhaps if Ogunjobi clears certain checkpoints in his rehab or agrees to a reduced contract, the Bears would revisit signing him.
Ogunjobi’s agent did not return a message seeking comment.
The Bears scheduled to introduce Ogunjobi with fellow newcomers Lucas Patrick and Nicholas Morrow on Friday.
Patrick, 28, started 28 games at guard for the Packers over the last two seasons, but said he signed his two-year, $8 million contract expecting to play center for the Bears.
That would shift incumbent Sam Mustipher to right guard, the second string or off the roster. The Bears tendered Mustipher, an exclusive rights free agent, for $895,000 last week.
Morrow, 26, played regularly at linebacker for the Raiders from 2017 through ’20, but missed all of last season with an ankle injury. He went on injured reserve before the opener, and the Raiders activated his return window before the playoffs, but he did not play.
The Bears also agreed to terms on one-year deals with wide receivers Equanimeous St. Brown and Byron Pringle on Thursday, but neither has signed.
With Ogunjobi out, at least for now, the Bears pivoted to an agreement with former Chargers defensive tackle Justin Jones, NFL Network reported.
Jones, 25, was a third-round pick out of North Carolina State in 2018 and emerged as a starter for the Chargers the next season. He had 101 tackles in 36 games over the last three seasons.
All of those deals have been short and modest. Ogunjobi was Poles’ lone splurge as he seems to be prioritizing the enormous opportunity awaiting the Bears a year from now.
OverTheCap projects the Bears have the second-most salary-cap space in the NFL in 2023 at $131.7 million, and they’ll have all their draft picks, too. As the Bears eye the upcoming draft, they have two second-rounders, a third, two fifths and a sixth.
While Poles isn’t tanking by any means, it’s clear he doesn’t want to make any moves now that would cramp his plans down the road.
