If there is one thing the Chicago Bears can't question general manager Ryan Poles about, it's that he has been aggressive over the last two years in building the roster the Bears currently have.
All Poles needed was the right head coach, and it appears they have that in Ben Johnson because this Bears team is clicking. From selecting Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze in the first round of the NFL Draft in 2024 to acquiring Joe Thuney and Kevin Byard III via trade or free agency in the last two offseasons, the Bears have made some great moves to help them be 8-3 to start the 2025 season.
With the hits Poles has taken on, some have not paid off for the Bears. One of them is hurting them on the field with little impact.
All that money spent on Grady Jarrett and the ROI isn't there
Chicago signed Jarrett to a three-year, $43.5 million contract in the offseason to help add some size on the defensive line and give them a run stopper in the middle. This was seen as one of the safer decisions since Jarrett had been a two-time Pro Bowler with the Atlanta Falcons.
That has not turned out the way Bears fans were hoping. Jarrett missed time earlier this season with a knee injury he suffered. He has missed three games this season.
He has started three of the eight games he's appeared in this season. His stats before the Week 13 Philadelphia Eagles showdown include 17 tackles, five quarterback hits, and one pass deflection. Pro Football Focus has him graded at 52.5, ranking 97th among 128 interior defensive linemen.
Jarrett has made a greater impact by being one of the team's veteran leaders. It's something Johnson has brought up in his press conference with Jarrett speaking on behalf of the players, if there are any issues.
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Having a veteran leader is vital on a team, but when that same team spends $14.5 million a year, they expect more than just 17 tackles in eight games. The Jarrett signing has not worked out for the Bears, and if it doesn't get better soon, the experiment might have to end sooner than most wanted.