The 2025 offseason may be remembered by Chicago Bears fans for many reasons.
The first being the hiring of Ben Johnson. Chicago also had a great draft with Colston Loveland and Luther Burden looking like hits. They took many big swings in free agency as well. Some hit, and some were not as impactful.
Bradley Locker of Pro Football Focus went through the best and worst free agent additions that the Bears made this season. For the best, he went with Drew Dalman, and for the worst, the choice was Grady Jarrett.
Who were the Chicago Bears' best and worst free agency additions from 2025?
Dalman was excellent this season. The Bears have not been set at center for a long time, and it felt like it changed the way the team played and helped Caleb Williams grow. It is the clear choice, if only because the other two big additions were via trade.
The Bears did extend Joe Thuney, but they also traded for the right to sign him this offseason. All things considered, he could very well be the answer for the best offseason addition, but not the best free agency signing. Jonah Jackson was acquired via trade as well.
In Jarrett's case, this is a small surprise, but a surprise nonetheless. It is likely because he missed so much time due to injury, but Dayo Odeyingbo was likely the worst free agent signing the team had.
It was always a questionable signing because he did not produce as much as the money he signed for warranted. While his injury was out of his control, he was not impactful before it, and it was one of the biggest gripes fans had about the slow start.
Now that he is injured, he puts them in a tough spot next year. The team would like to just admit their mistake and move on, but their salary cap is tied to the team.
Now, they have to hope he recovers from his injury quickly enough to make an impact. Even still, assuming he will be back to his peak next year is a stretch.
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So they are going to overpay and miss out on better options for two straight seasons. This was the worst signing they made.