1. Justin Jones
Justin Jones signed a two-year $12M deal with the Chicago Bears. It will be hard to look at Justin Jones without hearing the name Larry Ogunjobi, as we all know that Jones is only here because Ogunjobi failed a physical.
We graded the decision to pass on Ogunjobi already, so this will be looking solely at Jones. Jones was the best defensive lineman and it is hard to debate otherwise, which is good.
It also is easy to say that when Armon Watts and Trevis Gipson are the big names competing with you on the line. The Chicago Bears needed someone in that 3-technique position to rush the passer, and Jones was their best bet after missing on Ogunjobi. For that, he did exactly what they wanted him to do.
The issue is whether or not he sticks for the future. The team obviously wants to upgrade, and Jalen Carter is a name tossed around often. That would either push Jones to a backup, which would make him highly paid for his role.
Or, it would make him more of a nose tackle. He has done that before, but it would be tough to ask him to slim down and get after the passer one year, then ask him to bulk up and slide into the nose on the next year. Still, those are the options assuming a big-name 3-technique comes in, which has been discussed. This makes the signing good, but not an easy A.
Justin Jones signing grade: B