ESPN Hammers Chicago Bears For Two Free Agency Moves

Several experts, both nationally and locally, applauded what the Chicago Bears accomplished during the first wave of free agency. Through two trades and three signings, they completely overhauled their offensive and defensive lines. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson had a plan and executed it well. The belief is the Bears can now go into he NFL draft next month free to take whoever they want. Position doesn't matter. However, not everybody is high on what the Bears did.

Seth Walder of ESPN has long been an outspoken critic of the organization, downplaying their moves at every opportunity. This time was no different. While the three of their addition got solid grades from him, the same can't be said for two of their most prominent moves. The first was the trade with Los Angeles for guard Jonah Jackson. The other was signing defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, recently let go by the Atlanta Falcons. Walder couldn't understand the excessive resources used to acquire either of them.

Both were gross overpays.

Bears trade for G Jackson

Bears get: G Jonah Jackson

Rams get: 2025 sixth-round pick

Bears grade: D

Rams grade: A

The Bears are letting the Rams off the hook -- and paying a late-round pick to do it.

After signing a three-year, $51 million free agent deal with Los Angeles last offseason, 2024 went about as poorly as possible for Jackson. The guard landed on IR after Week 2, returned to play one game in Week 10 and then was promptly benched (he played again in Week 18 when the Rams rested starters).

Bears signing DT Grady Jarrett

The deal: Three years, $43.5 million ($28.5 million guaranteed)

Grade: D

The Bears know they're getting the 2025 (and 2026) version of Jarrett and not, like, 2020 Jarrett, right? He has long been a favorite player of mine, and from 2018 to 2020 or so, he was very much in the mix for the best DT not named Aaron Donald. But Jarrett has aged since then, and those times are long gone.

The Chicago Bears are taking calculated risks.

With Jackson, they clearly believe he was undone by circumstances out of his control in Los Angeles. He battled a shoulder injury in training camp that never quite healed, necessitating surgery. Then, when he returned, the Rams had found a solution at center in rookie Beaux Limmer. With no openings at guard, they decided to bench him. He is still only 28 and was a Pro Bowler under Johnson in Detroit. If he can stay healthy, the Bears know he can excel in this offensive system.

As for Jarrett, the team didn't sign him to be the anchor of the defensive line. It's not like the Chicago Bears broke the bank to get him. His deal makes him the 25th-highest-paid defensive tackle in the NFL. Not only that, but they can get out of the contract with minimal dead money after the second year. There is no reason to think he will fall off a cliff in that time. The Bears still have a healthy cap situation. It feels like these two moves were justifiable risks.