Chicago Bears sign TE Stephen Carlson

The Chicago Bears' signing of tight end Stephen Carlson earns a C Contract Value Index (CVI), reflecting a low-cost depth addition that carries minimal financial risk but limited upside potential. At $1.145M on what appears to be a short-term deal, this is strictly a reserve-level commitment—the kind of move that costs almost nothing against the cap and functions as organizational insurance rather than a meaningful talent upgrade. For a team sitting at 11-6 and holding the #2 NFC North seed heading into the regular season, adding depth at a premium position makes pragmatic sense, but Carlson's contract value suggests the Bears view him as a complementary piece, not a core contributor to their playoff window. The tight end market has punished mid-tier talent in recent cycles, and a sub-$1.2M AAV deal signals either a veteran on the downside or a young prospect being given a prove-it opportunity—neither profile commands significant capital outlay. This transaction is the definition of neutral value: it solves a roster slot without creating dead-weight risk, but it also doesn't meaningfully improve the team's ceiling if production is required come September. The Bears are making a sensible depth play here, one that won't haunt their cap sheet or draft strategy either way.