The Bears on Tuesday continued their thorough and diligent search for a kicker, acquiring Eddy Pineiro in a trade with the Raiders in exchange for a conditional 2021 seventh-round draft pick.
The deal stipulates that the Bears will only surrender the pick if Pineiro is on their active roster for at least five regular-season games this year.
Pineiro, 23, signed with Oakland last year as an undrafted free agent from Florida. It appeared that he was going to beat out veteran Mike Nugent for the Raiders job, but Pineiro sustained a groin injury in training camp that landed him on injured reserve.
Pineiro appeared in one preseason game with Oakland, converting 3-of-3 field-goal attempts from 21, 48 and 45 yards in a 16-10 win over the Lions.
Pineiro is the most accurate field-goal kicker in Florida history, having made 88.4 percent of his attempts (38 of 43) with a long of 54 yards. The Miami native made 29 of his last 30 field-goal tries for the Gators, including his final 16.
Pineiro had the best field-goal percentage in the nation in 2017 at 94.4 percent (17 of 18) with a long of 50. His only miss was a 47-yard attempt in a season-opening loss to Michigan. He made 2-of-2 from 50 yards and 4-of-5 from 40-49 yards.
Pineiro kicked in only seven games at Miami Sunset Senior High School. He also played soccer in high school and at ASA Community College in Miami before receiving a scholarship to play football at Florida.
Pineiro worked with new Bears kicking coach Jamie Kohl last year in preparation for the NFL Draft.
Pineiro becomes the third kicker on the Bears roster, joining Chris Blewitt and Elliott Fry. The team on Sunday waived Redford Jones and John Baron following rookie minicamp.
