Bears re-sign defensive end to $11.55 million deal

by Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Sunday, March 14, 2021, 1:55 PM

The Chicago Bears have kept one of their solid defenders before he hit free agency.

Defensive end Mario Edwards has agreed to a three-year extension worth $11.55 million.

In the first year of the deal, Edwards will reportedly make $4.5 million.

Despite not being a starter in 2020, Edwards was impressive with a career-high four sacks with six tackles for loss, 17 tackles, and seven quarterback hits.

The 27-year-old will be suspended for the first two games of the 2021 season for violating the league's policy on performance-enhancing drugs. He will still be able to play preseason games and practice.

For his NFL career, he appeared in 59 games with 24 starts and registered 93 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 12 tackles-for-loss, 23 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles.

Likely, it will be Eddie Goldman, Mario Edwards, and Akiem Hicks manning the middle of the defensive line for the Bears in 2021.

Edwards was a second-round pick of the Raiders in 2015.

Bears have signed Mario Edwards to a three-year, $11.55M contract, per @RapSheet

Edwards: 90.1 PFF Grade in 2020 (278 snaps played) pic.twitter.com/xdt5wM2FHh
— PFF (@PFF) March 14, 2021

Mario Edwards is here to stay! The #Bears have just signed him to a three-year deal.#TomsTalks?? pic.twitter.com/lp3tvyqwIk
— DaBearsTalk (@DaBearsBall1) March 14, 2021