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Bears starter draws criticism as overpaid entering 2025 NFL season

One surprising Bears starter is being called overpaid ahead of 2025—but is the criticism fair, or way off base?

Published

5 months ago

July 6, 2025

Bryan Perez

Critical flaw in Chicago Bears’ offense exposed ahead of 2025 season (News)

Denny Medley-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears are carrying a few burdensome contracts into the 2025 NFL season, with two standing out above the rest: Tremaine Edmunds’ four-year, $72 million deal and Cole Kmet’s four-year, $50 million extension. Both veterans will be expected to play major roles this year, but neither has consistently performed at a level that justifies their hefty price tags.

Tremaine Edmunds and Cole Kmet have been frequent targets in recent discussions about the Bears’ most overpaid players—and with good reason. But a new take feels off the mark. In a recent piece, FanSided’s Nick Halden pointed to newly signed free agent Grady Jarrett as Chicago’s most overpaid veteran, even before he’s played a snap in 2025.

Jarrett joined the Bears on a three-year, $42.75 million deal in free agency and is expected to play a key role in stabilizing the middle of Dennis Allen’s defense. While he may no longer be in his prime, the 32-year-old veteran is still regarded as one of the NFL’s more reliable interior defensive linemen.

“Three years and $42-million is a lot to play a veteran who isn’t the dominating force he once was,” Halden wrote. “While there is immense value in having him on the roster, there is an easy argument to be made that the Bears overpaid. Look back at Jarrett’s 2024 season and consider the lack of ability to make a consistent impact amid dysfunction. A player who was once a force no matter what was around him can no longer find this level at this stage of his career.”

Grady Jarrett Chicago Bears

Jacob Funk/ChicagoBears.com

Jarrett didn’t look like his old self in 2024, but that’s hardly surprising. It was his first full season back from a torn ACL that sidelined him for all but eight games in 2023. Still, he managed to start all 17 games last year, a testament to his resilience and drive. Now, with two full years separating him from that injury, there’s reason to believe he’ll return much closer to his pre-injury form in 2025.

The Bears don’t need Jarrett to return to Pro Bowl form, they just need him to be a steady, above-average presence in a defensive line rotation that includes Gervon Dexter, Andrew Billings, and rookie Shemar Turner.

Jarrett won’t be asked to log as many snaps as he did in Atlanta, which should help keep him fresher throughout the season and potentially boost his production.

There’s little doubt Jarrett will live up to the contract he signed. His passion for the game is undeniable, and even if his on-field impact isn’t what it once was, his leadership in the locker room and presence on the practice field should make him well worth the investment.