The Chicago Bears have made their defensive line a priority in free agency this spring, adding to a group that had underwhelming results during the team’s run to a division title. Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. are still locked in as starters, and Chicago has been focused on adding depth, signing Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street when the market opened a week ago.
The Bears continued their overhaul on Wednesday as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that defensive tackle James Lynch will sign a one-year contract with the team. The move won’t generate many headlines in Chicago except for a potential tie as a former divisional rival with the Minnesota Vikings. However, it is another sign the Bears have made enhancing their depth in the trenches a clear focus as they look to build on their success a year ago.
James Lynch Helps Bears Add Experience Along Defensive Line
The Bears stayed mostly healthy in the trenches last season, but it wasn’t enough for Jarrett or Dexter to show their worth. According to Pro Football Focus, Jarrett posted a career-low 56.9 overall grade and managed just 23 pressures and 1.5 sacks in the first year of a three-year, $43.5 million contract.
Dexter popped with a career-high six sacks, but his overall grade dropped from 69.7 in 2024 to 55.7 in 2025.
Neither performance was bad enough to send them out of Chicago this spring, but it could be a possibility by the time the Bears are preparing for next year’s free agency period.
At 33 years old, Jarrett could be a release candidate after this upcoming season, and the Bears can save $13.5 million against the salary cap by letting him go, per OverTheCap. Dexter has more youth on his side, entering his age-25 campaign. But the Bears have already hinted he may not be part of their long-term plans after he was rumored to be in trade talks at the NFL Scouting Combine.
With Shemar Turner coming off a torn ACL in his rookie year, the Bears would not only benefit from adding competition for next year but also from getting potential prospects that could fill a long-term role.
Lynch could be part of the solution.
A fourth-round pick by the Vikings in the 2020 draft, Lynch spent his first three years in Minnesota before suffering a torn ACL during the 2023 preseason. He returned to action with the Tennessee Titans in 2024 and was a key reserve on the defensive line, posting 45 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks over two seasons.
It’s also part of a strong competition that’s shaping up on the back end. Gallimore has 83 total games of experience over six seasons, and Street has appeared in 85 games. With Lynch’s 71 career games, the Bears are trying to avoid what happened last year, where Chicago had Andrew Billings, who had 92 games of experience, but was paired with Turner (0 games) and Chris Williams (30 games).
Lynch’s arrival continues the process of adding experience for next season, perhaps starting a long-term plan that could see the Bears further overhaul their defensive line before September.