The Chicago Bears made some moves ahead of the start of free agency to tender all three exclusive rights free agents in tight end Jesper Horsted, offensive lineman Sam Mustipher and offensive lineman Lachavious Simmons.
Exclusive rights free agents are players with two or fewer accrued NFL seasons who can only negotiate and sign with their original team. Horsted, Mustipher and Simmons all signed one-year tenders.
Horsted joined the Bears as an undrafted rookie out of Princeton in 2019. As a rookie, he caught eight passes for 87 yards and his first career NFL touchdown. He spent the 2020 season on the practice squad before appearing in seven games last year. Horsted’s two catches were touchdowns. Horsted has been used sparingly, but he showed a great chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields. Perhaps that’ll lead to more involvement in 2022.
Mustipher also signed with the Bears as an undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame, where he spent his rookie year on the practice squad. He got an opportunity to start at center in 2020, which earned him the starting job last season. He started all 17 games at center. But it doesn’t look like he’ll retain that starting job heading into 2022 following a rough year.
Simmons was a seventh-round draft selection out of Tennessee State in 2020. He made his NFL debut last season, playing in two games, including one start at right tackle against the Buccaneers in Week 7.
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