Bears sign veteran OLB Jeremiah Attaochu from Broncos to 2-year deal

The Bears signed former Bronco Jeremiah Attaochu to a two-year contract Sunday to build up their outside linebacker depth behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn.

Attaochu, 28, was the Chargers’ second-round pick in 2014 and spent a season with the Jets before working as a part-time starter for the Broncos the last two seasons. In 25 games (10 starts), he had 8.5 sacks, 52 tackles and a forced fumble.

He could be a replacement for Barkevious Mingo, who is an unrestricted free agent after getting 2.5 sacks in 390 snaps last season. The Bears played Mack 83% of their defensive snaps last season and used Quinn on 51%, leaving 36% off the bench. That’s likely the role Attaochu is eying in addition to working on special teams.

He could be an upgrade. His five sacks last season would’ve been tied for second on the Bears, who finished 17th in the NFL with just 35 sacks.

Attaochu was born in Nigeria and went to high school in Washington, D.C. before playing at Georgia Tech. He has 20.5 sacks in 74 career games.