The Chicago Bears signed free-agent edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year deal worth $48 million ($16 million per year) on Monday that includes $32 million fully guaranteed, sources tell NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Odeyingbo will head to the NFC North after spending the first four years of his NFL career with the Indianapolis Colts. The 25-year-old defensive end was selected in the second round (54th overall) in the 2021 NFL draft out of Vanderbilt and put up 106 tackles (58 solo), 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 46 QB hits, five forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in his time in Indy over 61 games (19 starts). After recording a career-best eight sacks for the Colts in 2023, Odeyingbo had just three sacks in 17 games (14 starts) last year. He figures to be a starter on Chicago's defensive line in his first year with the team in 2025.
Colts Unlikely To Use Franchise Tag On Dayo Odeyingbo
ESPN's Stephen Holder writes that it's unlikely the Indianapolis Colts will commit more than $20 million to impending free-agent defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo via the franchise tag when they already have a lot invested in their defensive line, even though Odeyingbo led the Colts with 33 QB pressures in 2024 and has 16 sacks in the last three seasons. The Colts took care of most of their top free agent last offseason -- receiver Michael Pittman Jr., cornerback Kenny Moore II, defensive tackle DeForest Buckner and linebacker Zaire Franklin. The 25-year-old Odeyingbo played a full season for the third straight year in 2024, but his sack total dropped from eight in 2023 to just three. Because of how much the Colts have already invested in their D line, it would not be a surprise to see them let Odeyingbo walk on the open market.
Indianapolis Colts defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo (Achilles) is up to 285 pounds right now after putting on 11 pounds of muscle, and he said he feels that his Achilles is getting stronger this offseason and it's getting back to where it's supposed to be. The 23-year-old is now two years removed from tearing his Achilles in the lead-up to the 2021 NFL draft. He played in 10 games in his rookie season and all 17 (four starts) last year, recording 31 tackles (18 solo), five sacks, five tackles for loss and 11 QB hits. Odeyingbo will be a key pass-rusher for the Colts in 2023, alongside Kwity Paye and Samson Ebukam, and he could even be moved inside at times.
Dayo Odeyingbo
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