The Bears made two significant acquisitions as part of a necessary overhaul of their defensive line when free agency opened Monday. But don’t assume the deals they made with defensive tackle Grady Jarrett and defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo are the end of that project.
Jarrett, a two-time Pro Bowl selection in his decade with the Falcons, was released Monday morning and agreed to a three-year, $43.5 million deal with the Bears in the afternoon, a source said. Odeyingbo, who spent his first four seasons with the Colts, agreed to sign for $48 million over three years, a source said.
Jarrett can sign any time since the Falcons cut him, and Odeyingbo can finalize his contract when the new league year begins Wednesday.
With the Bears also taking on big contracts in trades for offensive guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson, as well as agreeing to a three-year, $42 million deal with former Falcons center Drew Dalman, they are not expected to make any more major signings.
Jarrett and Odeyingbo slot in as presumptive starters, for now. Odeyingbo would work opposite pass rusher Montez Sweat, while Jarrett likely would play next to Gervon Dexter, shifting Andrew Billings to a backup role.
But the big-picture effect of getting Jarrett and Odeyingbo is that it theoretically gives the Bears a viable starting lineup heading into the draft.
If general manager Ryan Poles can live with those four as his starting defensive linemen and Braxton Jones as his starting left tackle, he won’t necessarily be cornered into drafting for immediate need with the No. 10 overall pick.
Instead, he could draft the best talent — within some limitations of what the Bears need most. At No. 10, he could land a top-tier offensive tackle, defensive end or defensive tackle.
Defensive end has been a problematic position for the Bears since Poles traded future Hall of Famer Khalil Mack in his first month on the job. Over the last three seasons, the Bears had an NFL-low 90 sacks, and last season Sweat led the team with just 5½.
The Bears cut defensive end DeMarcus Walker last month after seven sacks in two seasons. Odeyingbo, 25, is five years younger than Walker, but the Bears are projecting his production after a modest 16½ sacks in four seasons with the Colts.
At $16 million per season, Odeyingbo’s average pay ranks 21st in the NFL among pass rushers. That wouldn’t preclude the Bears from drafting one.
The Colts drafted Odeyingbo in the second round out of Vanderbilt in 2021, when Matt Eberflus was their defensive coordinator. He was mostly a reserve his first three seasons before taking a starting job last season.
Jarrett, who turns 32 next month, arrives as one of the most respected defenders in the NFL. The Falcons drafted him in the fifth round out of Clemson in 2015, and he was a full-time starter by his second season.
In 10 seasons, he played 152 of a possible 164 games, including every game last season, and played five playoff games. Jarrett started for the Falcons against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI, going directly against Thuney.
Between Jarrett’s age and the Bears still waiting for Dexter to develop, drafting a defensive tackle at No. 10 would still be in play.
And if Poles is comfortable with the entire starting defensive line, but not so sold on Jones, he can draft a tackle at that spot. The Bears could draft a left tackle, or move Darnell Wright from right to left and play the rookie at right tackle, making Jones the swing tackle.
It’s a win-win, regardless. If the Bears proceed as currently constructed, the roster isn’t perfect, but it’s an upgrade from last season. If they draft someone talented enough to supplant somebody in the starting lineup, even better.
