The Green Bay Packers have witnessed numerous ex-players joining forces with a rival team in the NFC North, becoming almost a recurring theme each offseason. Most recently, Dean Lowry and Robert Tonyan made moves to the Minnesota Vikings and Chicago Bears, respectively. Not long ago, Za’Darius Smith also made the switch to the Vikings, while this offseason marked Aaron Jones’ departure to the same team.
The trend doesn’t end there. When unable to outdo them on the field, the Bears seem to opt for the strategy of signing former Packers players.
Now, NFL Network insider Mike Garafolo reports that the Bears have reached an agreement with free agent defensive back Jonathan Owens. Owens, who played for the Packers in 2023, started in 11 out of the 17 games he played that season. Prior to his time with the Packers, Owens spent four seasons with the Houston Texans, accumulating notable stats over 48 games in his NFL career.
According to NFL reporter Aaron Wilson, Owens’ deal is valued at $4.5 million over two years, which appears to be a reasonable price for a player with his level of experience. This acquisition adds quality depth to the Bears’ roster, especially at a time when it’s needed.
Owens joins the list of former Packers players making the transition to a division rival, continuing the trend of players crossing the border to join a rival team.