Bears expected to pay $13.5 million for safety Demps

Although they had yet to make it official Thursday night, the Chicago Bears have reportedly reached an agreement with nine-year veteran safety Quintin Demps, who confirmed the agreement on Twitter.

The three-year contract is for $13.5 million, including $5 million in the first year, according to the Houston Chronicle.

Demps will turn 32 before training camp begins. But he had a career-best 6 interceptions last season for the Houston Texans, just 2 less than the Bears had as a team and 5 more than all their safeties combined.

Demps was an integral part of the AFC South champions' defense that was ranked No. 1 in the NFL in total yards allowed and No. 2 in passing yards allowed.

The 5-foot-11, 208-pound Demps was originally a fourth-round draft pick of the Philadelphia Eagles in 2008.

Since then he has been well-traveled. After two years with the Eagles, he played three years for the Texans (2010-12), and then one year each with the Kansas City Chiefs and New York Jets before returning to Texas for the past two seasons.

Of his career total of 18 interceptions, Demps has 15 in the previous four years, which is 1 less than all Bears safeties have in the same span.

Demps was the AFC defensive player of the month in December after intercepting 4 passes and making 22 tackles over the final four games of the regular season.

Addressing a need:

In another move widely reported and confirmed by the player on Twitter, the Bears snagged former Steelers wide receiver Markus Wheaton. Receiver is a position where the Bears need more talent and depth.

The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Wheaton does not make up for the loss of Alshon Jeffery, but he should be the replacement for injury-prone veteran Eddie Royal, who is expected to be released soon.

Wheaton is primarily a slot receiver. He played in just three games last season, catching 4 passes for 51 yards before a shoulder injury put him on I.R. However, in the two previous seasons, Wheaton caught a combined 97 passes for 1,393 yards and 6 touchdowns. As a rookie third-round (79th overall) draft pick in 2013, the Oregon State product had 6 catches for 64 yards.

With excellent speed (4.44 40-yard dash), Wheaton has big-play ability, and he could upgrade the Bears' kickoff-return game.

Keeping it tight:

The Bears have reached agreement with former Dolphins tight end Dion Sims on a three-year, $18 million deal, including $10 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network.

Since the Dolphins drafted him in the fourth round in 2013 out of Michigan State, Sims has started 22 games in four years, including 11 last season.

The 6-foot-5, 268-pound Sims just turned 26 and has caught 74 passes for 699 yards, a 9.4-yard average with 8 touchdowns, including 4 last season. He has the size and strength to be a more effective blocker than starter Zach Miller but also has displayed soft hands, athleticism and some run-after-the-catch ability.

Going, going, gone:

Backup defensive end Cornelius Washington signed a two-year deal with the Detroit Lions.

According to ESPN's Adam Caplan, Washington will make $6 million and can earn an additional $2 million in incentives. Last season was by far the most productive in his four years with the Bears, who drafted him in the sixth round out of Georgia in 2013.

The 6-foot-4, 292-pound Washington played in 15 games, started twice and had a career bests of 20 tackles and 2 sacks.

Seven-year veteran guard Ted Larsen, who started eight games last year, was expected to sign a three-year deal with the Miami Dolphins.

• Follow Bob's Bears reports on Twitter @BobLeGere.