Devin Duvernay
Getty
The Bears have lost All-Pro return man Devin Duvernay to the Cardinals in free agency
The Chicago Bears, like every other team in the NFL, have been busy to begin the offseason. However, early in free agency, their body of work has been defined more by the players they have lost, rather than the ones they have brought to town. And unfortunately, that trend continued on Sunday morning.
While the Bears enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025, they are going to have to find a way to replace several key parts of their team. The latest player to head for the exit door is former All-Pro wide receiver and return man Devin Duvernay, as he was scooped up by the Arizona Cardinals in an effort to bolster their special teams units.
Devin Duvernay Signs 1-Year, $2.5 Million Contract with Cardinals
Jordan Schultz
Sources: Former #Bears All-Pro WR/returner Devin Duvernay is signing with the #Cardinals on a 1-year, $2.5M deal, negotiated by @ErikBurkhardt of @RocNationSports.
Aside from being an option at receiver, Duvernay is a key weapon for his field-position impact as a returner.
Duvernay broke into the NFL as a third-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft with the Baltimore Ravens. Despite always being a threat to rip off a big play, Duvernay struggled to carve out a role for himself on offense. However, he managed to make up for that by turning himself into one of the most dangerous return men in the league.
In 2021, Duvernay earned his first Pro Bowl selection and a spot on the All-Pro First Team as a returner. While he didn’t score a touchdown on either a kick or punt return, he averaged the most yards per punt return in the league (13.8) while also racking up 24.1 yards per kick return. Simply put, there wasn’t another returner who was making the same sort of contribution as Duvernay.
Duvernay would earn another Pro Bowl selection in 2022, but he would leave the Ravens after the 2023 season, signing with the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency. After one year with them, he spent time with the Bears, but he’s now on the move once again. This time, he’s headed to the Cardinals after signing a one-year, $2.5 million contract with them.
“Sources: Former Bears All-Pro WR/returner Devin Duvernay is signing with the Cardinals on a 1-year, $2.5M deal, negotiated by Erik Burkhardt of Roc Nation Sports,” NFL insider Jordan Schultz reported in a post on X. “Aside from being an option at receiver, Duvernay is a key weapon for his field-position impact as a returner.”
Bears Have Already Found Their Replacement for Devin Duvernay
Devin Duvernay Stats
GettyChicago Bears wide receiver and returner Devin Duvernay recorded two catches for 26 yards on offense along with 1,300 total return yards on special teams in 2025.
Duvernay only caught two passes for 26 yards on offense in 2025, but his ability to work as both a kick and punt returner makes his loss a tough pill to swallow. It is worth noting that the Bears recently signed Kalif Raymond in free agency, so he figures to be the team’s punt returner moving forward. However, he hasn’t been used much as a kick returner in recent years.
Cornerback Josh Blackwell appears to be the top kick returner for the time being, with Raymond and Luther Burden III also potentially factoring into the mix. Replacing Duvernay isn’t a one-man job, but luckily for Chicago, it appears it has its bases covered when it comes to ensuring that he will be replaced in 2026 and beyond.