C+
B-
—
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Quick Reaction
Sentiment Analysis
B-
Positive
NegativeMixedPositive
Low-risk UDFA addition with developmental upside but unproven NFL production. Multiple headlines suggest Bears brass, particularly Ben Johnson, see potential worth developing here. Johnson's explicit comparison to Sam LaPorta signals coaching conviction and clear developmental vision. Fans view this as typical UDFA flier—cheap lottery ticket with minimal downside risk. Large will need strong preseason performance to earn roster spot beyond camp body status.
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Contract Value Index (CVI)
C+
Fair Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Signing Hayden Large to a three-year deal at roughly $1M AAV earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), landing this transaction squarely in "fair deal" territory for a minimum-scale tight end commitment with virtually no financial downside for Chicago. At $1.035M annually against a three-year, $3.1M total commitment, this is textbook roster-filler pricing — the Bears are essentially paying the going rate for a depth piece with developmental upside, not a proven contributor. The $67,500 in guaranteed money is nearly negligible, which tells you everything about where Large sits on the organizational depth chart: he's a camp body with a chance to stick, not a locked-in roster asset. For a Bears team currently sitting as the NFC's No. 2 seed with a 11-6 record, this signing isn't about reinforcing the starting lineup — it's about competition in the tight end room and insulating the 53-man roster against injury attrition heading into a regular season still four months away. The CVI reflects that the contract structure carries essentially zero cap risk, which is the primary virtue here, but the grade is capped by the reality that replacement-level signings at this price point rarely move the needle for a contending roster. Chicago isn't overpaying, but they're also not getting a steal — this is a low-cost option that lives or dies on whether Large can carve out a role in training camp. Prudent offseason housekeeping, nothing more.
Contract Details
- Length
- 3 years
- Total Value
- $3.1M
- AAV
- $1.0M
- Guaranteed
- $68K
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About this NFL transaction
The Chicago Bears signed Hayden Large (TE) on May 8, 2026. FanVerdicts grades every reported NFL transaction across three dimensions independently: Contract Value Index measures the deal's value relative to expected production, Sentiment measures media and fan reaction, and Fan Verdict aggregates community voting on this page. Current grades for this move: Contract Value Index C+, Sentiment B-, Fan Verdict pending.
Contract details below show the years, total value, average annual value, and guaranteed money the Contract Value Index grade is computed against. The grade does not change once written — it reflects market expectations at the moment of signing, recomputed only if the contract is restructured.
Want broader context? The NFL hub has the league-wide transaction feed and team rankings. The NFL transactions feed lists every reported move across the league with the same three-grade methodology applied to each.