Former Vikings Pick Signs With Bears
The Chicago Bears, coming off their first division title in years, have been quiet this offseason, as the salary cap space is a little tighter than it was in recent years. Still, they found some cash to lure a former Vikings pick to their squad.
A 2020 draftee, defensive lineman James Lynch is now playing on the other side of the divisional rivalry. The defender will now once again face center Garrett Bradbury in practice, for whom the Bears traded a couple of weeks ago.
He’s not a star by any means, but has carved out a nice career as a depth defender. The 27-year-old is now on his third NFL team, following the Vikings (2020-2023) and the Tennessee Titans (2024-2026).
In the last two seasons, Lynch appeared in all 34 games, logging one start. He played 245 and 334 defensive snaps as a rotational defensive lineman.
Lynch is the third defensive tackle to join the Bears this offseason, following Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street. Brendan Sugrue of Bears Wire wrote, “Lynch will serve a similar role with the Bears, competing with fellow free agent signees Kentavius Street and Neville Gallimore for playing time behind Gervon Dexter and Grady Jarrett. General manager Ryan Poles has opted to sign depth players on the defensive line rather than swing for an impact player up to this point as the Bears defense continues to undergo a face lift.”
Lynch was a 2020 fourth-rounder after an astonishing final season at Baylor. He was named first-team All-Big 12, won the conference Defensive Player of the Year award, and was a unanimous All-American.
The defensive lineman dominated his competition, collecting 19.5 tackles for loss, 13.5 sacks, three forced fumbles, and a pair of blocked kicks that year.
He entered the draft undersized, weighing in at only 289 lbs, and it wasn’t quite clear what the tweener’s role would be in the pros, which is why he fell despite his accolades.
In his first three seasons (all with the Vikings), Lynch appeared in 37 games (three starts) and logged 53 tackles and two sacks, on 640 defensive snaps and 70 on special teams.
Unfortunately, Lynch suffered a torn ACL in training camp in 2023. That was the final year of his rookie contract, and it entirely ruined the free-agent market for him in 2024. The Vikings re-signed him, but he failed to make the team last year.
After his subsequent release, the Titans snagged him in 2024 and re-signed him for a second year last summer. After a slow rookie season, he has been pretty much in the same role in all of his four healthy seasons, playing between 245 and 334 defensive snaps as a rotational lineman.
In 71 career games, Lynch has made 98 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 7 tackles for loss.
Lynch has never taken that next step, something the Vikings need from some of their backups this year. After the exits of Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, the Vikings will (barring a couple of premium newcomers) rely on 2024 7th-rounder Levi Drake Rodriguez and 2025 5th-rounder Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins to play next to Jalen Redmond, hoping they can grow into the elevated role.
Minnesota’s ex-defender Lynch is still only 27 years old despite his already eventful career.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.