Grady Jarrett

Career StatsD

Year	Team	GP	Sacks	Tkl	TFL
Career		166	38.0	535	73.5
2025		14	1.5	39	3.5
2024		17	2.5	53	12.5
2023		8

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Bears took a calculated gamble on veteran presence that looks like a slight overpay given the production mismatch. Jarrett's $14.3M AAV puts him in starting defensive end territory, but his current output aligns more with a rotational player role — creating an immediate disconnect between salary and on-field value that earns a C- CVI. At 31, the former Falcons stalwart is likely past his prime pass-rushing days, making this three-year commitment particularly risky given the backloaded guaranteed money structure. The $27.3M in guarantees provides Chicago with some flexibility to move on after two seasons, but they're essentially betting $42.8M total that Jarrett can elevate his game back to above-average starter level in a new system. This feels like the Bears prioritizing leadership and veteran savvy over pure value efficiency — a defensible roster-building philosophy, but one that rarely grades out favorably from a pure contract value perspective.

Performance Analysis

Grady Jarrett earns a D grade that reflects the twilight of what has been a productive 11-year NFL career. His 38 sacks, 535 tackles, and 73.5 tackles for loss across 166 games tell the story of a defensive tackle who was one of the better interior rushers in football during his prime with the Falcons. However, his move to Chicago in 2025 came with diminished production, as the 14 games played showed a player whose explosiveness has faded. Jarrett was a two-time Pro Bowler and a genuine game-wrecker during Atlanta's competitive window, but Father Time is undefeated. The D grade reflects where he is now, not where he has been — and for Jarrett, the gap between those two things continues to widen.

Current Sentiment

Grady Jarrett enters 2026 with decidedly mixed perception—recognized as a veteran defensive anchor and emotional leader ('the glue' for Chicago's defense), yet simultaneously facing organizational uncertainty around his future. The Bears' reported interest in elite defensive prospects to address a 'Grady Jarrett issue' signals that front office confidence may be waning despite his continued on-field contributions, as evidenced by his 2025 sack production. His $14.3M annual salary and 11-year career create a tension between respect for veteran presence and pragmatic questions about cap efficiency and positional value. Recent inactivity (Saints game) raises durability concerns heading into 2026, though this may reflect short-term management rather than systemic decline. Overall, Jarrett remains viewed as a solid, respected veteran whose standing is complicated by contract considerations and organizational evaluation of positional needs.