A.J.

Klein

Klein spent time with four teams in 2022, which included two stints with the Bills. Klein signed to the Giants’ practice squad last October and was signed to the Ravens’ active roster three days later. He was later involved in the Ravens’ trade for Roquan Smith, only to later be cut by the Bears and return to the Bills the following day. A seasoned veteran of the league, Klein totaled 16 tackles last season and has 82 career starts to his name. He’ll likely serve as added depth for the Bills this season, but can handle a spot start or two when necessary.

Signed by Baltimore earlier this month, Klein, 31, appeared in two games for the Ravens and has started 81 career games. He goes to Chicago where he’ll be someone who can simply help fill snaps down the stretch.

The Bears have now traded a key member of their defense in back-to-back weeks, after trading defensive end Robert Quinn to the Eagles last week. Smith, has appeared in all eight games for the Bears this season, totaling 83 tackles, four TFLs and 2.5 sacks. The former No. 8 overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft is a two-time Second-team All-Pro (2020, 2021) and is in the final year of his rookie contract. Baltimore will likely look to re-sign Smith next offseason, but will also need to work out a long-overdue deal with quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens also sent linebacker A.J. Klein to the Bears in exchange for Smith.

The Ravens have struggled on defense this season, and now look to bolster their front seven with the signing of Klein. Klein signed to the Giants’ practice squad just days ago but is now headed to Baltimore to join the 53-man roster. Klein has appeared in 134 games throughout his career, and made four starts for the Bills in 2021. Last season with the Bills, Klein totaled 35 tackles, four TFLs and one interception.

Klein’s release saves the Bills $5.2 million against the cap. He was about to enter the final year of a three-year, $18 million contract. Klein’s role declined drastically last year. He went from playing 652 snaps in 2020 to 277 in 2021. Now 30 years old, Klein will likely find a home somewhere else as a rotational player on defense and a special teams contributor.

Per SiriusXM’s Adam Caplan, the deal includes $9.7 million guaranteed. Klein just finished out a three-year, $15 million deal in New Orleans. His snap totals over the past three years were all over the upper end of the map, ranging from 60-85 percent. Klein is capable of playing multiple positions and contributes at least a little in every phase of the linebacking game. It’s a solid, if unremarkable, signing for one of the AFC’s best defenses.

Klein was a three-year starter at Iowa State, playing both strong-side and weak-side linebacker. He and Chase Blackburn will be the main backups at linebacker in Carolina, and Klein will play a lot on special teams as a rookie.

Klein (6-foot-1 1/4, 250) saw action at both strong- and weak-side linebacker as a three-year starter for the Cyclones. He tallied 20 career tackles for loss and tied an NCAA linebacker record with four pick-sixes. Klein ran 4.66 at the Combine and did 20 reps on the bench. Primarily a SAM ‘backer with plus athleticism and thumping ability, Klein could be a poor man’s Chad Greenway. He’ll initially focus on special teams unless something goes wrong with Jon Beason’s health, which has been known to happen.

Blackburn has ditched his cast and is now wearing a protective boot. Fifth-round rookie A.J. Klein has helped fill the void with eight tackles and one sack over the last two games.

He’d most likely push journeyman WLB Chase Blackburn at weak-side linebacker. A 2013 fifth-round pick out of Iowa State, Klein held up well in two rookie-year starts. He’s still unlikely to make a serious IDP dent next season.