Report: LB Shea McClellin To Sign With Patriots
(CBS) The Shea McClellin era is officially over in Chicago.
The often-maligned Bears defensive end/linebacker of the past four years, McClellin has reached an agreement on a three-year deal with the Patriots, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday night. McClellin's exit from Chicago was expected after the Bears recently signed linebackers Danny Trevathan and Jerrell Freeman.
The Bears selected McClellin in the first round (19th overall) in the 2012 draft. He started his career as a defensive end. He played there for two seasons, then moved to linebacker ahead of the 2014 season. McClellin never found sustained success at any position, as he worked at inside and outside linebacker. The Bears set franchise records for defensive futility in 2014, and while they were improved in 2015, the front office made it a priority to upgrade at linebacker.
McClellin had 81 tackles in 12 games in 2015. He was the second Bear of the day acquired by the Patriots, who earlier in the evening traded a fourth-round pick to Chicago for tight end Martellus Bennett and a sixth-round pick.
McClellin had 161 tackles and 7.5 sacks in 52 games in his career in Chicago. He may best be remembered for breaking Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers' collarbone on a sack in a Bears win at Lambeau Field in 2013.