Chicago Bears sign DE James Lynch

The Chicago Bears' signing of James Lynch at $1.315M AAV earns a C- Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a depth move that carries modest downside but little upside in a premium pass-rush market. At that salary level, CVI reflects the reality that Lynch is being deployed as a reserve edge rusher — a low-cost, low-commitment audition rather than a foundational piece. The contract structure speaks to his positioning: dirt-cheap in absolute terms, yet still subject to the typical roster churn of veteran depth signings on short-term deals. What matters here is that the Bears are not overpaying for replacement-level production, and they're not committing significant cap resources or guaranteed money to take a swing on him. The downside is capped by the modest salary, but so is any meaningful upside — this is the kind of low-risk, low-reward transaction that fills out a training camp roster without moving the needle on team construction or competitive window. In a preseason environment just 91 days from regular-season kickoff, the grade reflects exactly what this deal is: a prudent, forgettable roster filler.