The Chicago Bears are generally seen as one of the big winners this offseason after making a series of moves to improve both their offensive and defensive lines through trades and 2025 free-agent signings.
General manager Ryan Poles made notable deals with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, acquiring Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. These moves immediately bolstered the pass protection for quarterback Caleb Williams. Additionally, Poles signed Drew Dalman, the top center available in free agency, to provide significant support in reading defenses and setting protections for Williams.
While the offense has clearly benefited from these moves, Poles’ decisions on defense, particularly the signings of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and edge defender Dayo Odeyingbo, have raised more questions.
According to ESPN’s ranking of NFL teams’ free agency performance, the Bears landed at No. 15. While not a terrible position, it’s far from being considered “winners” of the offseason, and the lower ranking is primarily due to their defensive acquisitions.
ESPN’s Ben Solak pointed out that the Bears might have overpaid, especially given the expectations tied to big contracts. He notes that being a team with a lot of money and few wins often leads to overpaying in free agency, which could set up unrealistic expectations for the impact of new signings. While the offensive line improvements are clear, Solak is less convinced that the defensive line made a similarly significant leap with the additions of Jarrett and Odeyingbo. Solak argues that Jarrett’s prime may be behind him, and while Odeyingbo is a solid rotational player, he’s been paid as though he’s a top-tier starter.
The signing of Odeyingbo has also been questioned by Bears fans, many of whom wonder if he offers more upside than DeMarcus Walker, who produced similarly in 2024. Still, Odeyingbo has long been seen as a player with high potential, and the Bears are hopeful that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen can help him unlock that talent.
Bears coach Ben Johnson expressed optimism about Odeyingbo, highlighting his ability to be disruptive both inside and outside. “He’s 25, he’s played a few years in the league, and we believe there’s more room for him to improve,” Johnson said.
As for Grady Jarrett, Bears GM Ryan Poles disagreed with the notion that his best football is behind him. Poles believes that Jarrett still has a couple of years of high-level play left, particularly with a defensive rotation alongside Andrew Billings and Gervon Dexter, which should keep him fresh and explosive.
“You can’t have enough pass rushers,” Poles said. “We want to have waves of pass rushers, and if all of these guys improve and work well together, we can really affect the passer and put our team in a great position.”
In the end, while questions remain about the defensive signings, the Bears are betting that these moves, alongside their offensive improvements, will set them up for future success.
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