It's Official: Bears Sign OLB Pernell McPhee

(CBS) The Bears made their big free agency move official late Wednesday morning.

Chicago has signed outside linebacker Pernell McPhee to a five-year deal to serve as the centerpiece of a defense that's undergoing a rebuild and a transformation to a 3-4 base. McPhee's deal will be worth $40 million, including $16 million guaranteed, according to reports from when the news first broke Monday.

The 26-year-old McPhee has spent his entire four-year career with the Ravens, playing in 60 games and starting six times. In 2014, he had 7.5 sacks last season despite playing about half of Baltimore's defensive snaps, as he was behind Terrell Suggs and Elvis Dumervil on the depth chart. He also had 64 quarterback pressures and 24 quarterback hits, according to the the Baltimore Sun.

The 6-foot-3, 280-pound McPhee was used primarily as a pass rush specialist and deployed from a variety of techniques and alignments by Baltimore defensive coordinator Dean Pees. Certainly, his ability to transcend scheme was attractive to new Bears coach John Fox and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

The Bears will hold a press conference Wednesday afternoon to announce his signing.

Click here for CBSChicago.com Bears beat writer Dan Durkin's full breakdown on McPhee and how he'll fit into Chicago's system.