The Chicago Bears have been among the most active teams since the conclusion of the 2024 NFL season. Their most significant move was hiring Ben Johnson as head coach. Johnson, who previously orchestrated the Detroit Lions’ high-powered offense, now takes charge of a Bears unit that struggled with consistency last season. His arrival signals a major step forward for Chicago’s offense.
A closer examination of the Bears’ offensive struggles in 2024 highlighted significant issues on the offensive line. While Johnson’s strategic expertise is invaluable, his impact will be limited without adequate protection up front. Recognizing this, general manager Ryan Poles made two key moves—trading for Chiefs offensive guard Joe Thuney and signing Rams guard Jonah Jackson—to bolster the line and support second-year quarterback Caleb Williams as he looks to take a big leap in 2025.
These acquisitions were far from subtle but were necessary to revamp the offense. Beyond these offensive reinforcements, the Bears also made notable defensive additions in free agency, signing defensive tackle Grady Jarrett from the Atlanta Falcons and edge rusher Dayo Odeyingbo from the Indianapolis Colts.
Odeyingbo, a 2021 second-round pick from Vanderbilt, had his best season in 2023 with 8.0 sacks. In Chicago, he has the potential to develop into a double-digit sack producer and a key piece of the pass rush. Meanwhile, Jarrett’s signing is a more under-the-radar move that could prove highly beneficial.
At 32 years old and standing 6-foot-0, 288 pounds, Jarrett lacks the imposing size of many modern defensive tackles, who often exceed 310 pounds. However, he compensates with impressive strength and quickness, allowing him to penetrate gaps and disrupt plays. A two-time Pro Bowler, Jarrett has recorded as many as 7.5 sacks in a season (2019) and posted 6.0 sacks in 2022.
Johnson, who previously coached against Jarrett while with the Lions, has expressed admiration for his consistent performance and preparation. “The first thing I’ll say about Grady is, this is a guy who has played at a fantastically high level for years,” Johnson said, per The Athletic. “He’s outstanding. You feel his presence. He’s a guy you have to game plan for when you go against him.”