Bears sign Danny Trevathan to three-year extension

The Chicago Bears locked up a valuable piece of their defense — and maintained a team leader — ahead of free agency.

The Chicago Bears locked up a valuable piece of their defense — and maintained a team leader — ahead of free agency.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Bears have agreed to terms with inside linebacker Danny Trevathan on a three-year extension.

You have to wonder what went ultimately went into the decision to re-sign Trevathan over fellow free agent Nick Kwiatkoski. There were reports that the Bears planned to make Kwiatkoski a free-agent priority, but that could’ve been smoke and mirrors.

Perhaps that was due to Kwiatkoski’s asking price, as he was assumed to be a top inside linebacker target in free agency.

While Trevathan has had his share of injury struggles — he has missed 16 games since signing with the Bears prior to the 2015 season — he has proven to be a valuable member of Chicago’s defense.

Trevathan was playing some of his best football — and was arguably the Bears’ best defender — at the time of his fluke elbow injury in Week 10 that sidelined him for the remainder of the season.

Trevathan’s contract extension keeps him paired with Roquan Smith in the middle of Chicago’s linebacker corps. But the Bears locked up an important piece of their defense before the start of the new league year.

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