Report: Bears sign ISU alum, CFL standout Roberson
The Bears are signing cornerback Tre Roberson, formerly of the Calgary Stampeders, to the biggest NFL contract for a CFL import since Cameron Wake joined the Miami Dolphins 11 years ago, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday evening.
Roberson, a collegiate quarterback who began his career at Indiana prior to transferring to Illinois State and teaming with ex-Bears WR Cameron Meredith, spent much of the 2016 season and '17 offseason with the Minnesota Vikings.
Roberson played the past two seasons in the CFL, where he was the league's co-leader in interceptions (7) and an All-Star last season, and won the Grey Cup two seasons ago.
The Dolphins signed Wake in 2009 to a deal that included $1 million guaranteed. Roberson likely earned as much if not more, signaling the Bears might already have a vision for him on their 2020 depth chart, which could include a starting vacancy opposite Kyle Fuller. Prince Amukamara has no remaining guaranteed money approaching his age-31 contract season after taking a step back along with so many of his Bears teammates this season.
The 27-year-old Roberson (6 feet, 200 pounds) was a Missouri Valley Conference first-team selection as a dual-threat quarterback in back-to-back years (2014-15) for the Redbirds after transferring from Indiana.
The rival Vikings may be among the nine clubs in addition to the Bears that offered Roberson a contract. Two of their three starters, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, are free agents, while 29-year-old Pro Bowler Xavier Rhodes is a potential cap casualty coming off his worst season in years.
The Bears, like the Vikings, are near the bottom of the league in cap space, in search of potential bargains to supplement an increasingly expensive star-studded defense that was still quite good but not overly dynamic last season.
In his first year on the job, Bears GM Ryan Pace signed free agent linebacker Jerrell Freeman, who previously with the Indianapolis Colts became one of the more recent CFL-to-NFL success stories.