Allen effectively signed as replacement for Peppers.
The Chicago Bears have agreed terms on a four-year deal worth up to $32m with former Minnesota Vikings defensive end, Jared Allen.
League sources have told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the deal includes $15.5m in guaranteed money, and could void after three years and $24m.
The Bears recently restructured quarterback Jay Cutler’s deal to save $4m in salary cap space according to multiple reports, while Allen has now been acquired to effectively replace Julius Peppers who departed a week ago to join the Green Bay Packers.
“We’re really excited about adding Jared to our football team. We know what his abilities bring to the table,” Bears coach Mark Trestman told the team’s website.
“We believe he’s going to come in hungry and excited to be part of our football team, and we believe he’ll fit right in.”
Allen has 128.5 career sacks, 12th most in NFL history, and has seven consecutive double-digit sack seasons including 11.5 last year with Minnesota.
The 31-year-old is a four-time Pro Bowler and was a popular figure with the Vikings fans, as Bears general Phil Emery insisted that Allen will help them take another step toward their continued efforts of building a championship-level team.
Allen had reportedly also visited the Dallas Cowboys and the Seattle Seahawks during free agency, while there were suggestions that he would perhaps consider retirement.
However, he has now found a new home in Chicago where he can look forward to a great deal of playing time whilst also working his way up through the history books with his number of sacks.
Based on the last four years, Allen has more tackles, sacks and disrupted dropbacks that Peppers, and so seemingly it is an upgrade for the Bears who will hope to make the playoffs at the very least in the upcoming season.
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