According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the Chicago Bears have quickly signed Indianapolis Colts free agent defensive tackle Neville Gallimore to a 2-year, $12 million deal during the legal tampering period:
It comes exactly one offseason after the Bears also poached former Colts backup versatile defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo to a 3-year, $48 million deal (with
$32M guaranteed) last offseason.
Gallimore’s latest contract isn’t nearly as costly, but it is an impactful backup interior defensive line loss to the Colts—and further explains why Indianapolis acquired former Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Colby Wooden in the Zaire Franklin trade over this past weekend.
For the currently salary cap crunched Colts, Woodson is much more affordable at $1.145M, in the last year of his rookie contract, compared to Gallimore averaging $6 million per year on his new deal. Every little bit helps.
Signed to a 1-year, $1.33M deal last offseason with the Colts, formerly as a member of the Los Angeles Rams, Gallimore proved rotationally to be one of the best backup interior defenders that Indianapolis has had in years—particularly after having to make 8 starts in relief of injured veteran All-Pro defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.
During all 17 games this past season, the 6’2”, 307 pound Gallimore recorded 38 tackles (18 solo), 4 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and 3 passes defensed.
The Colts are publicly looking to get younger and more athletic in their defensive front seven, and those early offseason plans will no longer include the 29-year-old Gallimore among the continued options.
