Bears add 2 key players: LB Trevathan, OT Massie

The Chicago Bears wasted no time addressing one of their many needs on defense, signing former Bronco Danny Trevathan, the consensus best inside linebacker in the unrestricted free-agent market.

News of the four-year deal worth approximately $24.5 million, with $12 million in added guarantees, first came about 10 minutes after the league year officially began at 3 p.m. Wednesday with the start of free agency.

About an hour later, the Bears announced a three-year, $18 million deal with former Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Bobby Massie, sparking speculation about the Bears possibly moving Kyle Long again.

Upgrading at inside linebacker is a major focus of the Bears' off-season plans. Their two 2015 starters - unrestricted free agent Shea McClellin and Christian Jones - made few impact plays, combining for just 4 tackles for negative yardage and 1 take-away.

Trevathan, who turns 26 later this month, was the leading tackler (109) on the Broncos' Super Bowl champion defense last season and also had 2 interceptions. Before that, he played the previous three years under Bears coach John Fox when Fox held the same position in Denver.

"Coach Fox is one of the guys who gave me an opportunity to showcase how I can fit in any scheme," Trevathan told reporters in the days leading up to Super Bowl 50.

The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is a true three-down player with great range as a run defender, and he has excellent coverage skills.

A sixth-round pick out of Kentucky in 2012, Trevathan led Denver in tackles (152) by a wide margin in his second season, when he also had 3 interceptions and 2 sacks, starting all 16 games. Three left-knee injuries in 2014 limited Trevathan to just three games, including one start.

His 5 interceptions have all come in the last three seasons, tied for sixth in the NFL among linebackers during that time. His 16 pass breakups since 2013 are tied for 11th among NFL linebackers.

Trevathan was one of just eight linebackers last season with at least 100 tackles and 2 interceptions, and one of only seven linebackers in 2013 with at least 120 tackles and 3 interceptions.

In seven postseason games, including six starts, Trevathan has 46 tackles, 2 for negative yardage, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 pass breakup. Both fumble recoveries came in Super Bowl 50, where Trevathan also had a team-high 8 tackles.

The 6-foot-6, 316-pound Bobby Massie agreed to a three-year deal. The four-year vet started 30 games over the past two years and 46 in his NFL career, all at right tackle.

The deal for Massie ignited speculation on the future of Long, who was a Pro Bowl right guard his first two years in the league before being moved to right tackle last season. Long struggled at times in the new spot but was added to the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement.

The plan might not be formalized until after the draft at the end of April, but Long isn't worried.

"If it means going back to guard, great," he told ESPN 1000-AM radio. "If it means going back to tackle, great."

Massie, 26, was suspended for two games last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He is considered a strong run blocker but has struggled in pass protection.

According to Pro Football Focus, the former fourth-round pick out of Mississippi allowed 7 sacks, 6 quarterback hits and 39 quarterback hurries last season.

The Bears also re-signed three of their own unrestricted free agents Wednesday, the most important being cornerback Tracy Porter, who got a three-year deal worth $16.5 million.

After missing the first two games with a hamstring injury, Porter played in the final 14 games last season with 13 starts and was the team's best coverage corner for most of the season.

The 5-foot-11, 188-pounder has battled injuries throughout his eight-year career, but he led the Bears with 22 pass breakups in his first season in Chicago and also had 1 interception and 1 forced fumble.

Running back Jacquizz Rodgers and offensive tackle Nick Becton agreed to one-year contracts.

Rodgers had 14 carries for 41 yards (2.9-yard average) in five games in 2015, his first season with the Bears, before an arm injury landed him on injured reserve.

Becton played in five games last season on special teams.

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