It was clear that the Chicago Bears' 2025 offseason focus was on an offensive reset and rebuilding the trenches. All the skill players in the world cannot save Caleb Williams or the Chicago defense if you can't win up front consistently.
While the rookie quarterback had an up-and-down season, the reason for the Bears' 2024 failure was completely based on this issue. With this in mind, signing former Atlanta Falcons defender Grady Jarrett was a great decision. Jarrett has long been one of the league's overlooked interior producers, based on being surrounded by a consistent lack of talent. Still, the Bears paid top dollar for a player whose best seasons are likely behind him.
Three years and $42-million is a lot to play a veteran who isn't the dominating force he once was. While there is immense value in having him on the roster, there is an easy argument to be made that the Bears overpaid. Look back at Jarrett's 2024 season and consider the lack of ability to make a consistent impact amid dysfunction. A player who was once a force no matter what was around him can no longer find this level at this stage of his career.
The Bears Paid Top Dollar for Defender Grady Jarrett
Overpaying a veteran player isn't always the worst move, and it is very possible that is the case with Jarrett. While the defender doesn't put up a lot of numbers, much of what he does on the inside isn't showing up on the box score. The ability to eat double-teams and set up a teammate to make a play has long been a defining trait during the defender's years in Atlanta.
The obvious counter to this would be pointing out that Jarrett has spent much of the last two seasons dealing with an injury. One that forced the Falcons to release the interior defender and allowed Chicago the chance to sign him. All of this adds up to plenty of reason for Bears fans to believe that the team overpaid for a veteran leader.
Whether or not this is viewed as a mistake in retrospect will depend entirely on how the 2025 season goes. A return to form would silence any critics, while a repeat of last season will give endless fuel to pick apart every offseason decision. Regardless, Jarrett is an interesting player to keep an eye on early in the season to see if the aging defender has any ability to turn back the clock.