The Bears added depth to their running back corps Monday, agreeing to sign former Seahawk Mike Davis to a two-year deal. Minutes later, they added a new starting nickel back, signing former Jets cornerback Buster Skrine.
Davis will make $6 million over the two years and Skrine will get $16.5 million, with $8.5 million guaranteed, over three seasons, per NFL Network.
Davis Tweeted a picture of a bear head and a smiley-faced emoji on Twitter.
🐻 😊
— IG MikeDavisRB (@MikeDavisRB) March 11, 2019
Davis, who served as Seattle’s third-down back last season, ran for 514 yards on 112 carries last year and also caught 34 passes for 214 yards. He’ll provide the kind of versatility that Matt Nagy craves in his offense.
What the move means for Jordan Howard, who is entering the final year of his deal, is another question. The two veterans could conceivably coexist, with Davis taking carries and lining up at receiver, but there are questions about Howard’s fit in the offense.
The 49ers drafted Davis, a South Carolina alum, in the fourth round in 2015, and the Seahawks claimed him off waivers two years ago.
Skrine, who turns 30 next month, spent his first four years with the Browns and the next four with the Jets. Earlier this year, Bears coach Matt Nagy had considerable praise for him.
“He’s one of the better nickels in this league, if not the best,” Nagy said. “I mean, he’s good. He’s a good nickel in there.”
Skrine’s signing rules out the return of the Bears’ own nickel, Bryce Callahan, who is a free agent.
The Bears cannot officially sign Davis or Skrine until the start of the league season Wednesday afternoon. On Monday, the NFL opened the legal tampering period, which allows teams them to negotiate with agents, but not players themselves, for two days.
