Julius Peppers signs with Green Bay Packers

Julius Peppers is no longer a Chicago Bear, but he's not leaving the NFC North.

The veteran pass rusher agreed to terms Saturday on a three-year deal with the Green Bay Packers, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't announced details.

The deal includes $7.5 million in guarantees, will pay Peppers $8.5 million in the first year and maxes out at $30 million.

Peppers, 34, has 118½ sacks over 12 seasons with the Carolina Panthers and the Bears, who released him March 13. He primarily has been a 4-3 end but is expected to be a hybrid player in Dom Capers' 3-4 scheme in Green Bay, getting opportunities at both end and outside linebacker.

The Packers are revamping their defensive front. They re-signed B.J. Raji to a one-year, $4 million contract on Friday and plan to move him back to his natural position of nose tackle. They also re-signed defensive end Mike Neal to a two-year, $8 million deal.

The hope is Peppers can take some pass-rush pressure off star outside linebacker Clay Matthews in Capers' scheme, which uses a variety of fronts and features fire-zone blitzes.

For Peppers, the deal means he gets two cracks this year at his old team, the Bears, including one at Soldier Field.