Following reports that the Chicago Bears were shopping tight end Martellus Bennett, it appears a trade has been made.
As first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter, and later by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Bennett was traded to the Patriots for draft considerations. Reports indicate that the Bears will also sent a sixth round draft pick to the Patriots, with a fourth round draft pick coming back to Chicago.
The Bears have not yet confirmed the move.
The Bears have nine draft picks in the 2016 NFL Draft, with two picks in each of the fourth and sixth rounds. They had three selections in the sixth round after trades sent Jon Bostic to the Patriots and Jared Allen to the Panthers, but they'll lose one as part of the Bennett deal.
The tight end, who is entering the final year of a contract that pays him a shade over $5 million, has been agitating for an extension, but rumors of a possible trade circled after the team re-signed Zach Miller to a two-year- contract. The team also brought back Rob Housler on a one-year contract last week amid a flurry of free agent signings.
