The Bears on Wednesday signed unrestricted free agent guard Dakota Dozier to a one-year contract.
The 30-year-old has appeared in 76 games with 27 starts over seven NFL seasons with the Jets (2015-18) and Vikings (2019-21).
"We are happy to add another tough offensive lineman to our team in Dakota," said general manager Ryan Poles. "We would like to thank Billy Conaty at Eastern Athletic Services for helping bring him to Chicago."
Dozier was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2014 draft out of Furman. He's been a regular starter in only one season—when he played all 1,084 offensive snaps at left guard for the Vikings in 2020.
The 6-4, 312-pounder spent most of last season on Minnesota's practice squad, appearing in six games, exclusively on special teams.
Dozier is the eighth unrestricted free agent the Bears have signed since the start of the new league year last Wednesday. He joins center/guard Lucas Patrick, receivers Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown, fullback Khari Blasingame, defensive tackle Justin Jones , defensive end Al-Quadin Muhammad and linebacker Nicholas Morrow.