Grady Jarrett has rebounded swiftly from cap-casualty status. Hours after the Falcons released him, the veteran defensive tackle is joining the Bears on a deal fairly comparable to his previous Atlanta pact.
Chicago is adding Jarrett on a three-year, $43.5MM deal, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, who adds $28.5MM will be guaranteed at signing. This represents a win for the 10-year Falcon, who is going into an age-32 season.
This signing comes after the Falcons had offered Jarrett a reduced deal, but ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler indicates the interior D-lineman believed his market value would produce a better contract. He appears to have been right. Jarrett will join a Bears team that has been busy along its lines. After trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, Chicago agreed to bring in Drew Dalman at center and Dayo Odeyingbo at DT.
While Dalman and Odeyingbo are first-time free agents, Jarrett and Thuney are closer to the end of their respective careers. The two faced off back in Super Bowl LI, a breakout night for Jarrett that included three sacks of Tom Brady. Thuney has maintained a higher performance level, earning back-to-back first-team All-Pro nods, but Jarrett has fared well contractually. This is his third veteran contract, after the Falcons had paid the former fifth-rounder in 2018 and 2022.
Jarrett has three double-digit TFL seasons, with his most recent slate coming in 2022. That marked Jarrett’s last season before an ACL tear, which marred his 2023 campaign. While Jarrett returned to action on time last year, he only accumulated 2.5 sacks. Though, the Falcons have continually offered Jarrett little support in terms of edge pressure. He has still racked up 77 TFLs and 36.5 sacks. Teaming with Odeyingbo and Montez Sweat presents a better situation than Jarrett has enjoyed in many years.
The Bears had used former second-round pick Gervon Dexter as a primary starter at DT, but it appears the 2022 draftee will be sliding to the second team soon. Fellow starter Andrew Billings remains under contract as well, but Jarrett and Odeyingbo will supply a high-priced tandem to help Chicago after its defense ranked 27th in yards allowed last season. The Bears were 28th against the run.
Nice signing. Always liked Jarrett and should fit in nicely in that scheme.
Poles is flat out cookin!
Just wondering where he’s getting the money. So far he’s signed 5 guys and is paying them all around 15 million bucks. He only had 80 to play with and he still has to sign his draft picks. Who’s going?
Cap space is an illusion; you can push money down the road using void years and you can restructure contracts that frees up some as well. Look at what the saints have done the last 10+ years. They’re constantly in “cap hell” but never see any side effects.
Facts. Cap is a scam lmao
Yeah but that bill comes due eventually. And it’s a B__ch.
Most of these guys are on 2+1 deals so he can pretty easily restructure a little bit of money, not that he really needs to. We should land right around the cap after all is said and done.
Poles is expecting Unclemike to launch a GO FUND ME campaign for the Bears if there is a salary cap squeeze. I guess Mike didn’t get that email 🙂
Trenches problem solved and then some, on both sides of the ball.
Bears can draft their BPA now at pretty much every pick. Only limitation is we need a RB at some point and probably some line depth/developmental guys and I still think Booker and Amegadjie have decent potential to develop.
Yes, a nice player for Dennis Allen. But 3 years/43 million with 28.5 up front for a 32 year old is a bit questionable to me.
He’s still good rotational piece. Can’t believe he got that contract though; he hasn’t been the same in couple years.
Bears had 43 MIL going into today. Added 14,14, and 16 AAV for 44. But once you drop almost 1 million for replacing a player on top 51 cap hits and factor in 1st year cap hit usually lower they are fine you are looking maybe 35 million out of cap estimate. I’m not a fan of restructured contracts until needed and winning situation. But until they sign another big contract no worries yet.
They have a lot of holes to fill and lack capable backups. This is an accident waiting to happen. Detroit drafted 3 all pro o line first round as well as two all pro d line . All but decker not even in their prime
Yeah I mean I’d have to think they’re done until the draft, right? Doubt they bring back Keenan Allen or take a swing at any of the other WRs still out there on the market like Cooper, Diggs, Johnson, Williams, Slayton or even Cooks. I’m sure they could get someone cheap and I wouldn’t mind them getting some depth at WR but they could also just as easily land someone like Golden in the draft or McMillan if he falls (guessing he goes 5 or 6 tho).
All these guys have injury histories or are past their prime. What is poles thinking?
Come on. They upgraded both trenches by a mile from where they were at the end of last season. They have 4 picks in the top 72 of the draft and they’ll get some youth there. They’ll be better.
Yeah but what I like is that none of these contracts are long term potential nightmares. Yeah they paid a little more for these guys but this gives Johnson and Poles more time to draft replacements that can be trained up and can the slide in. There are no 8 year 200 million dollar nightmares on the immediate horizon. This could be a trade back draft now where they can stockpile some depth. This is a great draft with good value for beef and RB’s. DT, IOL this draft is full of them well into the 3rd round. Stock up.
A lot of moves for Da Bears today. I wonder what they will do with the 10th pick.