Bears Recent $43 Million Addition Already Close to Getting Labeled a Bust
The Chicago Bears took a gamble when they added veteran Grady Jarrett to their defensive line this past offseason.
It’s a gamble that has yet to pay off. Chicago was hoping to get a proven disruptor on the interior of the defense who could both pressure QBs and help shore up run defense. So far, that hasn’t happened. Instead, Jarrett is moving quickly toward earning the dreaded “bust” label.
The Bears’ offseason commitment to Jarrett underscores how much they believed in his impact. They inked the two-time Pro Bowler to a three-year pact worth around $43 million, including $28 million guaranteed.
With his guaranteed salary stretching into 2026, there’s no easy way out of this deal, which is why it’s already starting to look like a mistake by general manager Ryan Poles and company.
Bears Defense Has Started Slow Out of the Gate in 2025
Chicago’s defensive struggles might be making Jarrett’s current lack of production stand out even more. The Bears have been gashed on the ground and inconsistent at generating pressure, issues that directly overlap with what Jarrett was signed to help fix. Heading into Week 6, Chicago is ranked 31st against the run, giving up almost 165 yards on the ground per game.
Through four games, Jarrett has recorded just four total tackles, three QB hits and no sacks while playing slightly more than half of Chicago’s defensive snaps. His overall PFF grade (55.7) is currently ranked 112th out of 186 qualifying interior defensive linemen.
As it stands, it’s unclear whether Jarrett is slow ramping up due to age and injury issues, or whether Chicago’s defense is just taking longer than anticipated to get rolling, Jarrett is 32 years old and is still working his way back from an ACL tear he suffered in October 2023. He managed 53 tackles and 2.5 sacks in 2024, but a lingering knee issue has landed him on injury reports this fall and could be limiting his explosiveness.
Grady Jarrett Needs to Start Producing for the Chicago Bears ASAP to Avoid Being Labeled a Bust Signing
GettyChicago Bears DT Grady Jarrett is already flirting with the bust label heading into Week 6.
While Jarrett was named a team captain leading up to the season and has been a solid leader in the locker room, he wasn’t paid solely to provide veteran leadership. He was brought in as a tone-setter. With so much guaranteed money and so little production, the optics of his signing are going to sour quickly if the tide doesn’t turn. October and November will be huge for Jarrett, as he needs to show that he can still be a difference-maker on the defensive line.
Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen thinks injuries across the entire defense are a huge reason his unit has struggled early on.
“When you have a lot of moving parts, it makes it a little bit challenging,” Allen said, via 670 The Score’s Chris Emma. “So, hopefully we can get guys back, stay healthy and develop a little bit of continuity within the group. There’s something to be said about guys being able to work together for extended periods of time. When you’re able to do that, you kind of understand where each piece to the puzzle is going to fit.”
Jarrett’s one of the guys the Bears want to see healthy, but since he’s not practicing even after the team’s bye week, there’s definite reason to be concerned.
NHL Insider believes Alex Tuch could draw interest from the Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers have been busy over the past week, locking up core players to contract extensions and signing free agent Jack Roslovic to a one-year deal. Any other meaningful additions to the roster this season will likely come several months from now as we approach the trade deadline. That said, it sounds like the team has already been watching the market for top-six wingers.
NHL Network insider, David Pagnotta, mentioned on a recent episode of Daily Faceoff Live that Alex Tuch could be an option for Edmonton if the Buffalo Sabres fall out of the playoff race. Tuch, 29, is in
“If this team doesn’t have him signed, and by the halfway point…we already know we’re focusing on ‘26-’27…Then I think you start to have discussions out there; the Oilers would be one of them,” said Pagnotta.
It’s easy to see why Tuch would be an intriguing player for Edmonton. He’s got two 30-goal campaigns under his belt and has produced at over a 60-point pace in four consecutive seasons. The 6’4” winger has the size and skill that any team would love in their top six. We don’t have a crystal ball to see whether the Sabres become sellers between now and the deadline, but Tuch is undoubtedly a great fit. Let’s take a closer look.
Tuch’s playstyle
Leon Draisaitl and Connor McDavid have shown throughout their careers how well they play with effective forecheckers on their lines. In the past three seasons, McDavid has played most of his 5-on-5 minutes with Zach Hyman, a tenacious forechecker who has a knack for getting open near the net. McDavid and Hyman have outscored the opposition 180-107 together since 2022-23. They have had over 62% of the goals and expected goals, an incredible feat.
Draisaitl played much of last season with Vasily Podkolzin, another forechecker who likes to get in the dirty areas and retrieve pucks. They also easily outscored the opposition, finishing with a 58.7% share of the goals and 61.6% of the expected goals.
Tuch fits the mould of an ideal linemate for 97 and 29, with the speed, forechecking and skill to get the superstars the puck and get into danger areas. Look at his percentiles relative to the rest of the NHL in some key microstat rates:
Forechecking
- Forecheck Pressures: 81%
- Recovered Dump-ins: 64%
Passing
- Shot Assists: 68%
- High Danger Passes: 87%
Transition
- Controlled Entries 45%
- Ctrl. Entry Chances 89%
- Controlled Exits 59%
- Exit Success Rate 90%
What can we learn from this data? Tuch is a versatile player. He is aggressive on the forecheck and comes out winning the puck more often than most. He’s also a terrific transition player, both when it comes to exiting the defensive zone and creating chances off the rush.
Another helpful skill Tuch possesses is an efficient shot. Over the past three seasons, he has shot 14.5% at 5v5, just a hair better than Draisaitl, who has a 14.4% shooting percentage. Shooting efficiency is the one area where both Hyman and Podkolzin typically fall short, even next to McDavid and Draisaitl. The one season where Hyman shot well over 13% playing in Edmonton’s top six, he exploded for 54 goals; however, he typically falls well short of the efficiency he achieved that year.
Overall, Tuch plays the exact brand of hockey that brings out the best in McDavid and Draisaitl — fast, heavy, skilled, and a willingness to go straight to the net. It’s easy to see why Edmonton would have him circled on their deadline wish list.
Does Targeting Tuch make sense for the Oilers?
You can never have too many top-six forwards in the NHL. Tuch would make the Oilers better both in terms of their process and efficiency. While he would fit this team like a glove, there are still several questions to be answered before they can commit to such a high-profile acquisition like this. If Edmonton spends its assets on him, it will be difficult to upgrade the goaltending, a position that has been inconsistent for the Oilers for quite some time.
If Stuart Skinner finds success this season under new goalie coach Peter Aubry, or if Connor Ingram sees a resurgence back to NHL starter level, there may be no need for a goalie. That would open up options to upgrade the top six forwards, but if none of those things happen, Edmonton might prioritize acquiring a proven starting goalie before considering a player like Tuch. It would be tough to blame them in that scenario, considering the recent history of dicey goaltending performances, especially in the playoffs.
There are numerous things to monitor as the season progresses. I fully expect the Oilers to be patient and see how their new line combinations play out, as well as how their goaltenders perform. In a few months, we will have more clarity on Edmonton’s most pressing needs.
If the Sabres stumble and can’t get an extension done, don’t be surprised if Tuch’s name starts popping up again in several months.
