The Chicago Bears agreed to a contract extension with a key starter on defense Thursday, but it wasn't Jaylon Johnson. Instead, GM Ryan Poles signed defensive lineman Andrew Billings to two-year deal worth $8.5 million, including $6 million in guarantees.
Billings has been one of the most consistent starters on the Bears' defense in 2023. He has the third-highest grade of all Bears defenders with at least 240 snaps on the season, and has been a big (no pun intended) reason why the run defense is vastly improved this year.
Billings signed a one-year prove-it deal with the Bears last offseason, and he's done just that.
Andrew Billings' new contract will magnify the Jaylon Johnson contract situation even more. The veteran cornerback is waiting for a contract extension of his own, but it's becoming more likely hat newly acquired defensive end Montez Sweat will be the next big-money deal that gets done.
Sweat getting paid is an obvious expectation after trading a 2024 second-round pick for him. Billings' deal comes as a bit of a surprise, even if it's not the kind of money Johnson is expected in his next deal.
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