The Chicago Bears have been one of the most active teams in the NFL this offseason, and most would agree that they have done a tremendous job with the moves they have made.
Most importantly, the Bears have revamped their offensive line, which was a major problem area in 2024. They also added to their pass rush, which registered a very modest 40 sacks this past season.
While Chicago has generally earned positive reviews for its free-agent acquisitions, ESPN’s Seth Walder has some pointed questions for one major signing: Grady Jarrett.
The Bears inked Jarrett to a three-year, $43.5 million contract earlier this month, which has left Walder scratching his head.
“Jarrett’s numbers have been declining for years, bottoming out at a 9% pass rush win rate last season (though he was coming off an ACL tear),” Walder wrote.
Walder does not like the amount of guaranteed money Chicago handed Jarrett, either, as the defensive tackle landed $28.5 million in sure-fire cash.
He may have a legitimate gripe here, as Jarrett logged 53 tackles and 2.5 sacks while posting a rather pedestrian 62.1 overall grade at Pro Football Focus this past year. He is also two seasons removed from a serious knee injury.
There was a time when the former Atlanta Falcons star was one of the best interior defensive linemen in the league, as Jarrett made back-to-back trips to the Pro Bowl in 2019 and 2020.
However, the Clemson product is now 31 years old, and there is no doubt that he isn’t quite the threat that he once was in the trenches.
There is nothing wrong with the Garrett addition in and of itself, but the fact that the Bears gave him so much money over multiple years is definitely a bit concerning.
