The free agency craze started on Monday morning, and the Chicago Bears decided to take part in the festivities. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Chicago is signing defensive tackle Neville Gallimore to a two-year, $12 million deal.
While that isn't a big-money contract, this shows that Chicago is just fine going down the same path as it did last offseason when it signed Grady Jarrett in free agency.
Bears Signing Neville Gallimore Shows a Bigger Problem at Hand
Gallimore has been in the NFL for six seasons, spending time with the Dallas Cowboys, Los Angeles Rams, and Indianapolis Colts. Nonetheless, he hasn't finished with an overall grade higher than 59 from Pro Football Focus.
Season | Overall Grade | Pass Rush Grade | Run Defense Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
2020 | 52.1 | 57.6 | 51.5 |
2021 | 49.8 | 53.3 | 54.0 |
2022 | 36.4 | 58.5 | 29.7 |
2023 | 59.5 | 66.5 | 54.6 |
2024 | 49.9 | 56.0 | 47.1 |
2025 | 56.6 | 70.2 | 45.8 |
In 83 career games (26 starts), he had 147 total tackles, 15 TFLs, 16 QB hits, and 7.5 sacks. While they aren't always a true indicator, Gallimore's advanced statistics at PFF show the defender isn't a good run stopper. He also provides minimal pressure numbers. Last season, he finished with a career-high 3.5 sacks, but he finished with fewer than two sacks in five of his six seasons.
Just last offseason, Chicago gave defensive tackle Grady Jarrett a three-year, $43.5 million deal, which included $28.5 million guaranteed. And despite getting that big contract, Jarrett was underwhelming last season. In 14 games, he had 39 total tackles, one TFL, eight QB hits, and 1.5 sacks. On PFF, he finished with a 56.7 overall grade (76th among 134 graded defensive linemen), 64.6 pass-rush grade (55th among 134 graded defensive linemen), and a 44.5 run-defense grade (105th among 134 graded defensive linemen).
Meanwhile, Jarrett only generated 21 total pressures. And instead of looking for players who provide more juice along the interior, it looks like they went down the same path. In 2025, Chicago was tied for 28th in the league in sacks (35). Montez Sweat led the way with 10 sacks, and Gervon Dexter Sr. was next with six.
But the Bears know that wasn't good enough, and they need to add more productive pass rushers up front. The deal they gave Gallimore only comes out to $6 million per season, but they could have used that money on a defensive tackle who can consistently generate pressure.
Instead, they brought in a guy who has never finished with more than 3.5 sacks in a season. After spending loads of money on Jarrett, going down a different route at defensive tackle would have been wise, but Chicago had other plans.
They still have other options to improve the defensive front but this addition wasn't as encouraging.