The Chicago Bears have wasted no time making waves this offseason – and the NFL world is taking notice.
With the hiring of head coach Ben Johnson and a flurry of moves to strengthen the offensive line for presumed No. 1 pick Caleb Williams, Chicago has been lauded for one of the most aggressive and effective offseasons in the league.
Several NFL analysts, including those at ESPN, are now naming the Bears as the most improved team coming out of free agency.
In a recent article evaluating the NFL’s free agency period, ESPN gathered a panel of league insiders to vote on the best and worst signings – and the teams that made the biggest leaps forward.
Interestingly, the Bears were among the most commonly cited as dramatically upgraded.
“They attacked their glaring weakness at the offensive line, which should make Caleb Williams immeasurably better,” former NFL GM Mike Tannenbaum stated. “Give the Bears credit for trying to address their pass rush needs by signing Odeyingbo and Jarrett, too.”
Chicago’s front office made a series of bold but calculated moves to overhaul the offensive trenches.
In addition to trading for veteran guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, the Bears signed center Drew Dalman in free agency. The trio is expected to anchor a rebuilt interior offensive line – and provide much-needed protection for Williams.
The offensive improvements come at a relatively low price tag, making the moves even more appealing from a roster-building standpoint. And with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft still in hand, Chicago isn’t done reshaping its team just yet.
But not all of the Bears’ offseason decisions have been met with universal praise.
ESPN’s Seth Walder took issue with the team’s decision to hand veteran defensive lineman Grady Jarrett a three-year, $28.5 million fully guaranteed contract.
“Jarrett’s numbers have been declining for years, bottoming out at a 9% pass rush win rate last season,” Walder wrote.
He also noted Jarrett’s torn ACL suffered in 2024 as a significant red flag heading into his age-32 season.
While Jarrett once dominated from the interior – most notably in 2019, when he posted 7.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and 69 tackles – his recent injury history and age raise questions about his ability to return to peak form.
That said, there’s still optimism that Jarrett could thrive in Chicago’s rotation, especially if he doesn’t shoulder the full load.
With rising talent like Gervon Dexter Sr. and edge rusher Montez Sweat on the defensive front, Jarrett could carve out a valuable role in a limited capacity.
As the draft approaches, Bears fans have good reason to stay excited.
The franchise looks poised to surround its new franchise quarterback with the tools -and protection – needed to make a major splash in 2025.
Whether all the pieces fall into place remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Chicago’s front office has made their intentions clear – this is a team aiming to contend.
What are your thoughts on the Bears being tabbed as the biggest winners of the NFL offseason to this point???
