Veteran tight end Marcedes Lewis is poised to re-sign with the Chicago Bears, according to NFL insider Jay Glazer of FOX Sports.
Glazer reported that Lewis is “heading to Chicago to meet with the team tomorrow with the intention of re-signing there. … Barring any unforeseen circumstances, this will be Lewis’s 19th season as he comes in to support a young QB.”
Last season, Lewis had limited impact as a pass catcher for the Bears, but he is highly regarded for his exceptional run-blocking abilities. His skills will be invaluable for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the Bears’ running game.
At 40 years old, Lewis brings significant leadership both on and off the field, complementing the team’s tight end unit effectively.
“A little Sunday scoopage for @ChicagoBears fans, @MarcedesLewis89 tells me he is going to Chicago to meet with the team tomorrow with the intention of re-signing there. Barring something unforeseen, this will be Lewis’s 19th season as he comes in to help a young QB,” Glazer tweeted.
In his 17 games (four starts) with the Bears last season, Lewis caught just four passes on five targets for 29 yards and a touchdown. Despite this, he made substantial contributions to the run game and to former QB Justin Fields, often providing key blocks.
Lewis’s pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus in 2023 was 68.4, but his overall grade of 77.1 ranked fifth among all tight ends in the league (per Jacob Infante of Windy City Gridiron).
Bears general manager Ryan Poles praised Lewis at the end of the 2023 season: “I do want to single out Marcedes Lewis. That’s a special human being, and I know he’s played a lot in this league but was a really key addition to our staff, our team, and locker room. The leadership through some of the hard times and the things he said to pull guys together were outstanding, and I’m really, really thankful for him.”
With Lewis returning, the Bears bolster their tight end roster heading into the 2024 season. He joins a group led by Cole Kmet and Gerald Everett, providing the Bears with three versatile and experienced tight ends.
Kmet, 25, is entering his fifth year with the Bears and is coming off career highs in yardage (719) and receptions (73), with 13 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He has been a reliable pass catcher and solid blocker without missing a game.
Everett, 29, signed a two-year, $12 million deal with the Bears this offseason. He has accumulated at least 400 receiving yards in each of the last five seasons, offering another valuable pass-catching option opposite Kmet.
Former Bears scout Greg Gabriel commented on Everett for Windy City Gridiron: “Everett is a good athlete with good play speed and sure hands. He can consistently get open and is a good runner after the catch. Everett isn’t the blocker that Kmet is, but as a move guy, he doesn’t have to be. He is usually lined up flexed out as a slot or wing, and as a flexed-out tight end, he is plenty good enough as a blocker.”
Together with Lewis, the trio of tight ends gives Bears fans much to be optimistic about.
