Column: Bears’ addition of Jimmy Graham is a reminder of free agency’s ‘dangerous waters’

© Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Packers tight end Jimmy Graham scores a touchdown on Bears defensive back Deon Bush on Sept. 5, 2019, at Soldier Field.

Action happens fast when the NFL's legal tampering period opens and agents can get deals done with teams, with the only missing item a player's signature.

Contracts were hashed out and trades agreed to Monday, transactions that will become official after the new league year starts at 3 p.m. Wednesday — or perhaps later if physicals are delayed by the coronavirus pandemic that has gripped the world but somehow not stopped the NFL from launching forward.

The Bears were mostly window shopping until early evening, when general manager Ryan Pace reminded us why he has referred to the "dangerous waters" of free agency. ESPN reported the team agreed with tight end Jimmy Graham on a two-year, $16 million contract with $9 million guaranteed.

That's a costly way to cover the mistake the Bears made two years ago when Trey Burton was one of the splashy additions in a free-agent class that fortunately included wide receiver Allen Robinson.

"Biggest stunner of the day," one veteran source texted, a statement worth considering carefully as it came hours after the Texans gave away wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins in a trade with the Cardinals.

Graham, 33, was a dynamic target earlier in his career with the Saints, but he hasn't run well in recent seasons, making it difficult to envision that he will emerge as a threat for Bears coach Matt Nagy. Graham made 38 receptions for 447 yards with three touchdowns for the Packers last season while playing with Aaron Rodgers. So how will he look with Mitch Trubisky or pick-your-replacement? And who exactly were the Bears bidding against?

That's the kind of thing that can happen when shopping season opens. Halapoulivaati Vaitai reportedly landed a five-year, $50 million contract from the Lions, presumably to replace Rick Wagner at right tackle. Vaitai has 20 career starts but only four the last two seasons. Maybe he turns into a fine addition, but for now it makes what the Bears are paying left tackle Charles Leno and right tackle Bobby Massie appear prudent. It's also a reminder that drafting quality linemen annually is never a bad idea.

The Browns reportedly reached an agreement with Austin Hooper on a four-year, $44 million contract with $23 million guaranteed, eclipsing the $22 million the Bears guaranteed Burton in 2018 — the most ever for a tight end.

The Bears have questions at tight end even with Graham on board. It's at least worth wondering if they will have Graham compete with Burton or perhaps consider parting with Burton despite owing him $4 million guaranteed this year. The overarching point, the one you never should forget in free agency, is it's not uncommon for big deals — even ones that set benchmarks for pay — to quickly lead to buyer's remorse.

In that vein, it's not as if a commitment to Graham will have long-lasting effects on the roster, and with the notable exception of the Burton deal, most of Pace's free-agent contracts have given the Bears quick outs when needed.

The Bears' priority is finding a quarterback, and they probably won't have a long shopping list after that. Early Monday, they were engaged in talks to potentially add Teddy Bridgewater, an acquisition that would immediately alter the depth chart. Pace liked him coming out of Louisville, and Bridgewater now comes with the Sean Payton stamp after helping the Saints to a 5-0 record while Drew Brees was injured, including a 36-25 victory over the Bears on Oct. 20 at Soldier Field.

But the belief now is Bridgewater will head elsewhere, maybe to the Buccaneers or Chargers, though much depends on what happens with Tom Brady. Once the Brady domino falls, the quarterback action could happen quickly.

The Bears can consider potential trades for quarterbacks with whom staff members have worked previously. Andy Dalton should be available from the Bengals, and there is speculation the Jaguars will trade Nick Foles just a year after signing him to a four-year, $88 million contract. The fine print is important there. Foles basically has $20 million guaranteed remaining on his deal, a little more than the Bears paid Mike Glennon three years ago.

None of the options appears to be a perfect solution, but if you trade up to draft a quarterback No. 2 and miss, things are going to be messy three years later. Whether Nagy would replace Trubisky as his starter immediately with Dalton or Foles is unknown. Maybe he would just let the situation play out because who takes snaps in what order won't matter until September.

It's worth remembering the Bears have already spent big this offseason. They put together a big deal to extend free safety Eddie Jackson in January and extended inside linebacker Danny Trevathan last week with a three-year, $21.25 million contract that guarantees him $13.625 million.

Factor in a second-round tender for restricted free agent Roy Robertson-Harris, and the Bears have spent to prevent some of their players from departing via free agency. Often, those are the best dollars a team can spend. They're paying for a player they know with a medical history they understand.

What will happen with outside linebacker Leonard Floyd remains to be seen. Will the Bears release him to create $13.2 million in cap space, or could he be bundled in a trade? There's always the chance, probably slim, he's willing to play for less.

The rest of the league is keeping a close eye on what happens with Floyd, anticipating the possibility of movement. His $13 million salary becomes fully guaranteed if he's on the roster at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Perhaps before then, we'll learn the quarterback plan.

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