Bears Starter Leaves in Free Agency

Another Bears free agent has signed on with another team, according to his agency.

Defensive tackle Armon Watts signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers a year after he played on a one-year contract with the Bears.

Watts played the nose tackle or one technique in the Bears defensive scheme and was picked up off waivers just before the season started and after he'd been cut by Minnesota. He wound up starting 12 Bears games and playing in all 17.

A sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2019, Watts made one sack, 35 tackles, four for loss and had two quarterback hits.

Pro Football Focus graded Watts 102nd of 127 interior defensive linemen it graded, but he was ranked higher than any other Bears interior defender.

Mike Pennel and Justin Jones tied for 111th and Angelo Blackson was 122nd.

The Bears have signed former Raiders defensive tackle Andrew Billings to play the position this year but are still down in numbers at the one technique as both Blackson and Pennel are free agents who haven't been signed by the Bears.

Watts is the second Bears defensive starter to leave in free agency. Earlier starting weakside linebacker Nicholas Morrow signed with the Cleveland Browns.

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