It's been a crazy offseason for the Chicago Bears, completely reworking their coaching staff while also bringing in three different free agents on contracts of $40 million or more. All of that chaos has made it hard for Bears fans to keep up with every move swirling around the team.
The team still has nine free agents who were on the roster in 2024 that remain unsigned, and 12 former Bears have already signed with new homes for 2024. The one who received the biggest contract is also the one who is most likely to disappoint their new team.
Coleman Shelton got a $12 million deal from the Los Angeles Rams, and he's about to disappoint fans in LA.
Former Bear Coleman Shelton Will Be a Flop for Rams
Coleman Shelton wasn't exactly a household name in Chicago, but he was signed last offseason and started every game at center in 2024, anchoring an offensive line that completely let the fanbase (not to mention Caleb Williams) down.
Shelton had actually started his career with the Rams as an undrafted free agent in 2019. The Bears took a flyer on him after the first decent season of his career — he had earned a 64.5 grade from PFF in 2023 after falling below 60 in each of his first three seasons.
PFF actually graded him out reasonably well in 2024 too, but Bears fans can attest to how inconsistent his play was. There were certainly times he looked like a long-term answer in the middle of this line, but other games in which he totally fell apart.
And consider the distribution of his PFF grades. Two of his three highest-graded games happened to come against the two worst pass rushes in the NFL (the Arizona Cardinals and Carolina Panthers).
Shelton's best role is as a backup, but even then his lack of versatility limits his value there. Typically, you want a backup interior offensive lineman who can play guard or center, and while the Rams tried Shelton at guard some early in his career, he never had any success there.
A two-year, $12 million contract isn't huge by any stretch, but it's a significant deal to sign early in the offseason for a backup, and it's one the Rams are likely to regret.