Chicago Bears sign DL Jonathan Garvin

Jonathan Garvin's signing with the Bears earns a C+ Contract Value Index (CVI), a reasonable depth move that fills a roster need without overcommitting resources. At $1.145M on a one-year deal, this is a replacement-level defensive lineman acquisition—the kind of low-risk, low-cost flyer teams make during the offseason to add bodies to the front seven rotation. The contract structure reflects prudent restraint: there's no guaranteed money trap or multi-year anchor, giving Chicago flexibility to move on if Garvin doesn't stick or if a stronger option emerges. The value proposition hinges entirely on production and opportunity cost; at this salary, Garvin simply needs to outperform the open market alternative—a backup or camp-arm the Bears would otherwise cycle through. For a team sitting at 11-6 and positioned as an NFC playoff contender, this signing represents low-stakes roster churn rather than a statement acquisition, which is exactly what a veteran minimum deal should accomplish.