LAKE FOREST, Ill. – The Bears made a huge splash on the first day of free agency, bolstering their roster by signing defensive end Julius Peppers, running back Chester Taylor and tight end Brandon Manumaleuna.

Peppers was widely considered the top free agent available on the open market, while Taylor and Manumaleuna are both ideal fits in new offensive coordinator Mike Martz’s system.

Defensive end Julius Peppers sacks quarterback Brett Favre in a game last season versus the Vikings.

In landing Peppers after trading for quarterback Jay Cutler last April, the Bears have now pulled off the NFL’s boldest offseason personnel move in each of the past two years. 

A dominant pass rusher who signed a six-year deal, Peppers spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Panthers after being selected by Carolina with the second pick in the 2002 draft. 

Peppers has started 120 of 122 career games played, registering 381 tackles, 81 sacks, 41 passes defensed, six interceptions and 30 forced fumbles. His 81 sacks rank third in the NFL during that span.

In eight seasons, the 6-7, 283-pounder has been voted to five Pro Bowls, has started all 16 games five times and has compiled double-digit sacks on six occasions.

Peppers, 30, registered 14½ sacks in 2008 and 10½ in 2009. No Bears player has compiled at least 10½ sacks in back-to-back seasons since Rosevelt Colvin had 10½ in 2001 and 2002.

Taylor, who inked a four-year deal, has played eight NFL seasons with the Baltimore Ravens (2002-05) and Minnesota Vikings (2006-09). The 5-11, 213-pounder served as a complementary back to Adrian Peterson each of the past three seasons. In 2006—the year before Peterson joined the Vikings—Taylor rushed for a career-high 1,216 yards and 6 touchdowns on 303 carries.

"I'm excited," Taylor said Friday at Halas Hall. "It's a great opportunity to get out here and showcase my skills and try to help the team get back to the Super Bowl. We've played [the Bears] ever since I've been in Minnesota and they always gave us problems. I just think it's [a team] on the rise."

Taylor, 30, will bolster a Bears running game that ranked 29th in the NFL last season. Also an adept receiver out of the backfield, he possesses the skill set that Martz seeks in a running back.

In Minnesota, Taylor had 45 receptions for 399 yards and 2 TDs in 2008 and 44 receptions for 389 yards and 1 TD in 2009. His lone receiving score this past season was a 10-yarder from Brett Favre in a 36-10 drubbing of the Bears Nov. 29 at the Metrodome.

Manumaleuna, who signed a five-year contract, has played nine NFL seasons with the St. Louis Rams (2001-05) and San Diego Chargers (2006-09). One of the league’s top blocking tight ends, he has appeared in 142 games with 90 starts, catching 110 passes for 965 yards and 12 TDs.

The 6-2, 295-pounder was a key contributor in Martz’s offense in St. Louis. Bears coach Lovie Smith was the Rams defensive coordinator in Manumaleuna’s first three seasons in St. Louis.