The Chicago Bears took a gamble this offseason, signing former Atlanta Falcons star Grady Jarrett to a contract with $42.7 million over three years, with $27.2 million guaranteed.
A two-time Pro Bowler and key piece of the Falcons’ Super Bowl team in 2016, the soon-to-be 32-year-old Jarrett has been a picture of durability. He has appeared in every regular-season game in five of the last six seasons and seven of his 10 NFL campaigns.
Still, Jarrett’s signing was polarizing.
Bears DC Dennis Allen on Grady Jarrett: ‘Watch The Tape’
Grady Jarrett Impressed Bears DC Dennis Allen
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen sees upside in a player he is familiar with from his time as the New Orleans Saints head coach.
“If you watch the tape from last season, a year after coming off a ACL injury, I was really highly impressed with what I saw on the tape. And I think he’s still got some good football left in him,” Allen told Clocker Sports last Thursday. “When you sit down and you visit with him, and you talk with him, you understand that this is a football dude. You with me?”
“If you want to build a football team, you got to build it with football people, right? So, hey, maybe he’s not quite what he was at one time, all right? But that football mentality is also a skill set that I think we need inside this building.”
Jarrett had 53 total tackles and 2.0 sacks in 2024, and he was one of four Falcons players to start all 17 games.
Grady Jarrett’s 2024 Season Worst of Career
Pro Football Focus gave Jarrett a 62.1 grade for his efforts in 2024. That is the worst mark of his career, striking down his previous low of 62.7, which he set in 2016. He graded out better on average from Weeks 13 through 17 than any other stretch of the season.
While showcasing his infectious personality to local media, Jarrett touted how much he still has left. He also noted how motivated he is coming into a new situation.
The Bears need him to be correct in his self-assessment.
Jarrett’s deal carries a $7 million cap hit this season. But that number balloons to $19 million in 2026, with $13 million in guaranteed money among interior defensive linemen. The pact ranks 20th in total guaranteed money, per Over The Cap. He has earned $119 million in his career.
Grady Jarrett Addition Reshapes Bears DT Rotation
Adding Jarrett does beg the question of who starts alongside him. The Bears started 2023 free agent signing Andrew Billings and 2023 second-round pick (No. 53 overall) Gervon Dexter Sr. before the former tore his pec, ending his season after eight games.
Dexter is the homegrown talent and a relatively high draft pick, while Billings is the respected veteran entering the final year of his contract.
Some smart money may be on the youngster, but never underestimate veteran savvy.
Behind them are 2024 surprise Chris Williams, former Green Bay Packers nose tackle Jonathan Ford, and Zacch Pickens. Pickens was Dexter’s draft classmate but has not progressed as his teammate has due to injuries and inconsistency. The Bears also cannot be ruled out as a potential team that could target an interior lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft.
You know what I find interesting? You’ve got Falcons management throwing barbs at Jarret. Talking about this huge mistake the bears made. If he was so lousy, why do they have anything to say at all? You would think they’d be happy. The fact is, they made a mistake, they thought they could get him back on the cheap, and they blew it! So now they have to justify that situation with their fan base. That’s typical from this management group, because they’re the ones that screwed the bears up way before they’ve decided to screw up the Falcons.