Chicago Bears to sign LB Danny Trevathan, former John Fox pupil

Inside linebacker Danny Trevathan is the new man in the middle for the Chicago Bears.

Trevathan agreed to a deal with the Bears believed to be worth more than $7 million per season.

Bears general manager Ryan Pace said he wanted to upgrade at linebacker and cornerback. Chicago finished 6-10 last season and ranked 22nd against the run.

Trevathan, dogged by leg injuries in 2014, graded out as one of the best inside linebackers in the NFL in 2015, starring for the Denver Broncos' top-ranked defense alongside Brandon Marshall.

He spent three years in Denver under Bears head coach John Fox and has a built-in comfort level with Chicago's 3-4 defensive scheme. Trevathan led the Broncos in tackles two of the past three seasons.

Chicago struggled to fill the position with young and old alike the past two seasons. But the 25-year-old Trevathan should be a major upgrade, even if the Bears opt not to bring back Shea McClellin, an unrestricted free agent.