Chicago Bears sign DL Jeremiah Martin

Jeremiah Martin's two-year, $9M signing earns a **C+ Contract Value Index (CVI)** — a middling fit that reflects modest upside tempered by meaningful risk factors. At $4.5M AAV, the deal slots Martin into the solid-starter-to-above-average range for a defensive lineman, positioning Chicago to add depth without tying up premium cap real estate. The structure suggests a prove-it window rather than a long-term anchor; the Bears are gambling that Martin's salary-to-production ratio will tilt favorably if he stays healthy and productive over the next two seasons. What drags the CVI down is the age curve — Martin is at or past the inflection point where defensive linemen typically begin declining, meaning the team is buying into a narrower window of peak performance than it would with a younger acquisition at a similar salary. The Bears' #2 playoff seed position and recent downward sentiment trend add urgency to roster reinforcement, but this particular signing carries below-average contract security; one injury or failed scheme fit could render the deal's value proposition underwater quickly. This is a calculated gamble on incremental depth, not a franchise-building move — exactly the kind of mid-tier transaction that separates 11-win rosters from 12-win ones.