The Chicago Bears have been active this offseason. While the team has many great skill-position players, they lacked impact in the trenches last year. Caleb Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times last year, and GM Ryan Poles has already addressed the offensive line with a flurry of signings and trades. Now, he has shifted his focus to the defensive side of the ball. The team signed veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a three-year deal.
Chicago Bears Sign DT Grady Jarrett
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports it is a three-year, $43.5 million deal with $28.5 million guaranteed. Grady Jarrett has spent the last ten seasons with the Atlanta Falcons. In his career, he has amassed 496 total tackles, 36.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and 126 quarterback hits. He was also the team’s nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year award, meaning the Chicago Bears aren’t just getting a quality player but a quality person, too.
Jarrett has been named to two Pro Bowls and also received a second-team All-Pro nod for his 2019 season. That year, he had 69 total tackles, 7.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and two forced fumbles. While it is unlikely he will have that type of impact in Chicago, he is a quality depth piece and veteran for the team.
Big Changes In Chi-Town
The Chicago Bears have come out of the gates swinging. New head coach Ben Johnson likely made it clear where the team needed to focus their attention. When he was the offensive coordinator in Detroit, he had one of the best offensive lines in the league. He is looking to build that in Chicago. They picked up Joe Thuney from the Kansas City Chiefs, a former All-Pro, and also signed one of the top centers on the market.
The defensive line was a weakness for the team last year. They hope that edge rusher Montez Sweat can have a bounce-back year. He played in all 16 games last year and only had 5.5 sacks. For context, Aidan Hutchinson had more sacks, and he only played in five games before a season-ending injury. If Poles can continue to build in the trenches, this team could push for a playoff spot next year. The division is tough, but the Bears are making the right moves to compete with the best teams in the league.
