The big news of the day is the Bears signing of former Colts inside linebacker Jerrell Freeman, but the Bears also added some depth on the defensive line by re-signing DE/FB Mitch Unrein to a two-year deal. Unrein joined the Bears in September last season after being released by the San Diego Chargers.
For most of the season Unrein was a back-up for the Bears, but after multiple injuries along the defensive line Unrein ended up starting four games last year after starting only three in the first four years of his career. Unrein is a solid run stopper, grading out slightly above league average according to Pro Football Focus, but offers very little as a pass rusher though he did have 12 QB pressures over the course of the season.
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Unrein didn’t make any flash plays on defense, but he finished with 33 tackles, 2 tackles for loss and one sack on the season. He can also occupy multiple blockers which will help free up the Bears new inside linebackers to make plays. He was mainly nondescript as a DE, but garnered some attention for his work as a fullback in goal-line packages.
Unrein threw a key block on Packers LB Clay Mathews on Jeremy Langford’s TD run during the Bears Thanksgiving day upset of Green Bay. He also had a play where he blocked two different players on a short TD run, but sadly I can’t find any video of it online.
The 6’4, 306 pound Unrein has been a long-time favorite of Bears HC John Fox, who snatched Unrein off the Texans practice squad in 2010 and has had him on his rosters for most of the last five seasons. He’s not going to make many highlight reels, but Unrein has been lauded by Fox for his non-stop motor, versatility, intensity, and ability to play through minor injuries.
Hopefully the Bears aren’t done adding defensive lineman as they don’t have many on the roster right now, but adding a solid rotational player like Unrein is a good start and should also improve the Bears goal-line packages in 2016.