Grading the Chicago Bears Pre-Draft Moves

The Bears finished the 2024 season with many flaws that need to be addressed in the upcoming off-season. They did so in both the trade market and the free agency period. Let’s grade a few of the Bears major moves on both sides of the ball.

Grading the Chicago Bears Pre-Draft Moves

Jonah Jackson, G, Acquired via Trade

Grade: B-

The Bears kicked off their 2025 offseason moves by trading for Jonah Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. Fortunately for them, it only cost them a 2025 sixth-round pick. This move has a solid amount of risk, though. Jackson only played in four total games in 2024 for the Rams. However, that is reflected in the cheap price of a sixth-rounder.

Jackson has had ties to Ben Johnson since their time in Detroit. Jackson was a pro-bowler in 2021 when Johnson first took over as the offensive play-caller. Chicago is hoping Jackson can get back to that level of play with the familiarity of Johnson’s scheme.

Joe Thuney, G, Acquired via Trade

Grade: A

After it was known that the Chiefs were looking for trade options for Joe Thuney, the Bears quickly became a recurring name in trade talks. Chicago eventually landed the 32-year-old for only a 2026 fourth-round pick.

Thuney spent the majority of his time as a guard for the Chiefs but was asked to play left tackle after some bad injuries and play from that position late in the season.

In this trade, the Bears added a four-time Super Bowl champion to their offensive line and bolstered their worst position group before free agency even opened.

Drew Dalman, C, Free Agency

Grade: A-

Drew Dalman may not have the resume of Joe Thuney, but this is a fantastic scheme fit for the Bears. As we saw in Detroit, Ben Johnson loves to establish the run game and get things moving on the ground. Chicago can now do that with their trio of interior offensive line additions, headlined by Dalman at center.

Dalman is graded as the fifth as a run blocker and fourth overall among 64 qualified centers. Chicago added a strong mind to the middle of their offensive line that allowed the most sacks in the league and eighth-fewest rushing yards in the league last year.

Devin Duvernay, WR, Free Agency

Grade: B+

Devin Duvernay may seem like a boring signing at first, but he actually provides much more value than some may think. The Bears have had a large hole at their returner spot for quite some time since Devin Hester retired. Cordarrelle Patterson provided some solid plays while he was there for a short period of time, but nothing much has materialized since.

Duvernay has been fantastic as a returner in his time in the league. He has both a Pro Bowl appearance and a first-team all-pro nod to his name in five years in the league.

While he will be mainly brought in as a return specialist, his speed cannot be ignored on the offensive side of the ball. Adding this type of gadget/speed weapon to their offense to complement D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. He won’t be asked to shoulder the receiving load this year, but don’t be shocked if he has a couple of long touchdown catches from Caleb Williams.

Watch: Top Five Running Back Prospects 2025 NFL Draft

Dayo Odeyingbo, DL, Free Agency

Grade: C

This signing was definitely the biggest head-scratcher of the Bears moves this offseason. Dayo Odeyingbo spent his first four NFL seasons with the Indianapolis Colts as a 3-4 defensive end. This checks out for Dennis Allen’s 4-3 system, as he likes his bigger edge rushers that can provide good disruption in the run and pass game.

Odeyingbo will likely spend time at defensive tackle and defensive end for the Chicago Bears as they may add more edge-rushing talent through the draft.

The main concern with this signing is the price tag. Signing Odeyingbo to a 3-year $48 million deal while he hasn’t been a fantastic pass rusher seems quite steep. Maybe a change of scenery will help with a potential breakout.

Grady Jarrett, DT, Free Agency

Grade: B

Grady Jarrett was one of those early off-season cuts that you didn’t expect to see when it happened. Jarrett has spent his whole career up until this point with the Atlanta Falcons. The Bears swooped in and used this opportunity to snag the veteran defensive tackle to add to their defensive line rotation.

Jarrett seemed to slow down a little bit towards the end of his Falcons career, but he will look to use whatever is left in the tank with Chicago.

For Bears fans, this move seems fantastic as you get to add a strong veteran presence to a unit that houses an underrated player in Andrew Billings and an up-and-coming star in Gervon Dexter. Those three, rotating with each other, will surely cause havoc for opposing offensive lines.

2025 Pre-Draft Grade: B+

This offseason has been fantastic for the Bears so far, and they still have three picks inside the top 41 in the draft. They overhauled their weakest unit by turning their interior offensive line into what seems to be a strong force on paper. They also added some solid talent to their defensive line, which could prove helpful come the later months of the season.

The focus so far for Chicago has been clear. The trenches matter. The Ben Johnson era is seemingly off to an incredible start.