Multiple rumors have placed free agent tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (Chargers) with the Bears for several days now, and while many times things like that never actually come to fruition, in this case it was legitimate.

According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have signed Manumaleuna to a five year contract later today. No financial details outside of the length are available as of yet, but all indications are that the deal will be a fairly lucrative one for a player that’s seen as a blocking tight end more than a receiving threat.

As always, we’ll have more on this as it breaks, but for now suffice it to say that Chicago is cranking up the heat this morning on an otherwise lackluster free agent start.