The Chicago Bears and general manager Ryan Poles needed to make a quick pivot on Friday to sign former Los Angeles Chargers defensive end Justin Jones. The Bears are signing Jones for two years and up to $12 million.
The move came shortly after it was revealed their initial plans at the position, which was to sign defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi, needed to change after a failed physical. Instead of Ogunjobi, the Bears wound up with Jones to help disrupt opposing offenses.
Jones spent the last four seasons with the Chargers after being selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He missed time with injuries, but became a key starter for their defense and had his best season in 2021. He totaled 37 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, and three sacks last year. He now joins a Bears team under head coach Matt Eberflus that is overhauling their interior defensive line.
The signing doesn’t exactly provide the same flash that Ogunjobi would have, but do the Bears find themselves in a better spot with Jones instead? Here is our initial grade of the signing.