Bears Sign Former Panthers Defensive Tackle Bravvion Roy

The Bears have swapped out one massive interior defensive lineman with little experience for one with much more.

They announced they've waived defensive tackle Donovan Jeter and have claimed defensive tackle Bravvion Roy, the former Carolina Panthers defensive tackle. The Panthers had waived Roy on Monday. 

As the team with the worst record in the league last year, the Bears currently have first dibs on any player going on waivers. That can change during the regular season.

Roy is 6-foot-1, 330 pounds and figures as a nose tackle in this scheme, possibly backing up Andrew Billings.

Roy is 26 years old and was a 2020 sixth-round draft pick by the Panthers. He went on to play in 45 games with 15 starts in three seasons. Last year he was on injured reserve early in the season with a hamstring injury but finished on the roster and played in 13 games and four starts.

Roy made 76 tackles including three for loss and one sack, with eight QB hits in his three seasons with Carolina.

He'll be in competition with seventh-round rookie Travis Bell, among others, for a roster spot.

Jeter, a former Michigan player, had been in one game with the Commanders last year and was released in October before signing just after last season with the Bears.

While this addresses a depth/experience issue on the interior of their defensive line, the Bear still haven't focused on the edge rusher position, where a handful of veteran free agents remain available.