Chicago Bears sign TE Qadir Ismail

The Chicago Bears' signing of TE Qadir Ismail earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a middling verdict that reflects the modest financial commitment but limited upside for a depth move. At $885K total on what appears to be a one-year deal, this is a replacement-level salary that carries minimal cap risk and no long-term constraint on Chicago's flexibility heading into the regular season. The value equation here is straightforward: the Bears are paying a below-market rate for a reserve tight end, which suggests either a veteran minimum or a training camp invitation with incentive-laden structure—exactly the kind of low-risk acquisition that shouldn't move the needle on contract efficiency in either direction. For a team sitting at 11-6 and the NFC North's #2 seed, this signing likely addresses a depth need or provides insurance, but it's the definition of a filler contract that adds negligible expected value to the roster. The CVI grade of C+ reflects the inherent neutrality of the deal: no overpay, no steal, just a sensible organizational housekeeping move that carries neither downside risk nor meaningful upside leverage.