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Grade Chicago Bears sign TE Hayden Large
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Quick Reaction
Sentiment Analysis
C+
Mixed
NegativeMixedPositive
Low-risk UDFA signing with upside potential for Chicago's tight end room. Ben Johnson's endorsement across multiple headlines suggests offensive coordinator confidence in Large's fit. Iowa pedigree and Johnson's seal of approval represent the strongest positive indicators here. Fans view this as a developmental flyer rather than immediate contributor to competition. Large will likely compete for roster depth behind established options during training camp.
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Contract Value Index (CVI)
C+
Fair Value
OverpayFair ValueGreat Value
Signing Hayden Large to a three-year deal at roughly $1M AAV earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), landing this transaction squarely in "fair deal" territory for a minimum-scale tight end commitment with virtually no financial downside for Chicago. At $1.035M annually against a three-year, $3.1M total commitment, this is textbook roster-filler pricing — the Bears are essentially paying the going rate for a depth piece with developmental upside, not a proven contributor. The $67,500 in guaranteed money is nearly negligible, which tells you everything about where Large sits on the organizational depth chart: he's a camp body with a chance to stick, not a locked-in roster asset. For a Bears team currently sitting as the NFC's No. 2 seed with a 11-6 record, this signing isn't about reinforcing the starting lineup — it's about competition in the tight end room and insulating the 53-man roster against injury attrition heading into a regular season still four months away. The CVI reflects that the contract structure carries essentially zero cap risk, which is the primary virtue here, but the grade is capped by the reality that replacement-level signings at this price point rarely move the needle for a contending roster. Chicago isn't overpaying, but they're also not getting a steal — this is a low-cost option that lives or dies on whether Large can carve out a role in training camp. Prudent offseason housekeeping, nothing more.
Contract Details
- Length
- 3 years
- Total Value
- $3.1M
- AAV
- $1.0M
- Guaranteed
- $68K
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About this NFL transaction
The Chicago Bears signed Hayden Large (TE) on May 8, 2026. FanVerdicts covers every reported NFL move — and asks fans to weigh in on each one. Cast your Fan Verdict on this move, see where the crowd lands, and argue the call. FanVerdicts brings its own read too — sentiment and Contract Value Index — as one honest input alongside the crowd's. Where FanVerdicts has weighed in so far: Contract Value Index C+, Sentiment C+.
Contract details below show the years, total value, average annual value, and guaranteed money behind the Contract Value Index read. That read does not change once written — it reflects market expectations at the moment of signing, recomputed only if the contract is restructured.
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