The Chicago Bears were ultra-aggressive during the first day of NFL free agency. Perhaps the best part of the signings weren’t the players, but the common theme amongst them. All three players play in the trenches, which is the area the Bears desperately needed reinforcements for. Now where do the Bears go from here?<\/p>\n
For those who missed it, here’s a quick breakdown of the Bears’ key signings:<\/p>\n
After years of instability at center,<\/a> the Bears finally found a solution by signing Falcons’<\/a> center Drew Dalman. Ranked as the 4th-best center by Pro Football Focus (PFF)<\/a> last season, Dalman is an extremely athletic center who fits seamlessly into Ben Johnson’s<\/a> offensive system. His ability to thrive in space and handle one-on-one matchups makes him a crucial addition.<\/p>\n In nine games last season, Dalman allowed the fifth-lowest 1-on-1 pressure rate among centers<\/a> and was left 1-on-1 on 45.4% of pass-blocking snaps which was the second-highest rate among centers. Simply put, he’s a stud.<\/p>\n Defensively, Ryan Poles wasted no time addressing the team’s biggest weakness\u2014the defensive line. The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo, a versatile pass rusher from the Colts<\/a> who can play both inside and outside. At 6’6″, 286 pounds, he brings the size and pass-rushing ability that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen<\/a> loves. In 61 games with 19 starts, Odeyingbo had 106 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 16.5 sacks, and five forced fumbles.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n The Bears also added Grady Jarrett, a proven disruptor in the middle. While he’s 32 years old, he fills a need at defensive tackle and is 8th in pressures (368) and 12th in sacks (36.5) among defensive tackles<\/a> in his career. He’ll thrive in a rotation with Andrew Billings, Gervon Dexter Sr., and Chris Williams.<\/p>\n In this free agency cycle, it feels like the Bears are always a step ahead. And for a reason. The likely situation that unfolded was during the NFL Combine when the Bears’ front office got a feel for the desaturated free agent market at positions of need and decided to pivot in a different direction. Instead of handing out ridiculously large contracts for guards, the Bears traded for Chiefs’ All-Pro Joe Thuney and Rams’ guard Jonah Jackson.<\/a> While other teams were scrambling to sign mid-tier guards, the Bears focused on signing Drew Dalman and defensive linemen.<\/p>\nRewarding Aggression with Patience<\/h3>\n