The Chicago Bears wasted no time signing veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a three-year, $43.5M contract. The move has been met with mixed reactions — some praise it as a smart addition, while others question the risk of signing a soon-to-be 32-year-old defensive tackle.
The Bears have spent heavily this offseason, but this signing marks a rare shift in strategy for general manager Ryan Poles. According to KPRC 2 Houston's Aaron Wilson, Jarrett’s contract is structured in a creative way that minimizes the immediate cap hit.
Yeah, I like Grady Jarrett pic.twitter.com/VA8Vk4ecL0
— Dave (@dave_bfr) March 12, 2025
Grady Jarrett Contract Breakdown:
Length: Two years, $42.75M
Guarantees: $28.5M guaranteed
Signing Bonus: $12M
Salaries:
- $2.25M (fully guaranteed) in 2025
- $14.25M (injury guaranteed; $13M guaranteed at signing; remainder guaranteed if on the roster by the 3rd day of the 2026 league year)
- $11.75M in 2026
Bonuses:
- $25,000 per game active roster bonus in 2025 and 2026
- $1M 5th day of 2027 league-year roster bonus
- $325,000 workout bonus in 2025 and 2026
Here's a simple breakdown of Grady Jarrett's projected cap hits:
2025: $7M
2026: $19M
2027: $16M
Interestingly, Spotrac lists two void years at the end of Garrett's contract, which would set his cap hit at $5.4M in 2025. It's unclear whether Over the Cap or Spotrac is entirely accurate, but either way, the contract is clearly backloaded.
Why This Matters
For the first time since becoming GM, Poles is backloading a major contract. This structure lowers Jarrett's cap hit in 2025, signaling that the Bears are in win-now mode. Interestingly, Jarrett and fellow new defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo will have a combined cap hit of just $15M in 2025 — giving the Bears flexibility to possibly make another big move.
Poles has been calculated yet aggressive this offseason, and this contract leaves the door open for another potential trade or depth signing in free agency. The Bears are manipulating the cap masterfully — and it's exciting to see them positioning themselves to compete right now.
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