Team Needs

• Safety
• Left Tackle
• Edge Rusher
• Defensive Tackle
• Linebacker
• Cornerback
• Wide Receiver

Safety

If the Bears are going to make any noise in free agency, this is the most likely area for it. They currently have no safeties under contract for 2026, including starters Kevin Byard & Jaquan Brisker.

Byard was an All-Pro in 2026 and led the NFL in interceptions. He’s the leader, not just of the secondary, but of the entire defense. Bringing him back should be one of Ryan Poles’ priorities.

Because he’s over 30 years old, Byard should be able to be retained at an affordable price.

Brisker is younger, but he carries a risk due to the number of concussions he’s sustained in his career. Brisker has expressed a desire to return to Chicago, but I doubt he’d be willing to accept the steep discount it would require.

If the Bears are going to hand out a hefty free agent contract in free agency, one name sits atop the list: Rams strong safety Kamren Curl.

Bears fans do not have fond memories of Curl, as it was he that intercepted Caleb Williams’ final pass of the season. Curl is the same age as Brisker and offers a similar skill set, which complements Byard well. The contract projections are also similar. If the Bears aren’t comfortable with Brisker’s concussion history, this could be the avenue they take.

If the Bears want to go a cheaper route, some names to consider:

• Alohi Gilman, Ravens
• Reed Blankenship, Eagles
• Jabrill Peppers, Steelers

Gilman has the highest floor of these safeties. He’s been solid in coverage and run defense, though he’s not the most reliable tackler.

Blankenship is a superb run defender and tackler, but he struggled in coverage in 2025. He has the highest ceiling if the Bears think he can bounce back.

Peppers would be more of a reclamation project. He never found his footing in Pittsburgh after some solid years in New England. The Bears could bring in Peppers on a one year ‘prove it’ deal, while also drafting a safety.

Left Tackle

This became a need when Ozzy Trapilo tore his patellar tendon in the wildcard win over the Packers. Trapilo is likely to miss most of, if not all of the 2026 season.

The Bears don’t need to make a splash here, nor do they have to use a high draft pick. They only need a stop gap solution and competition for Theo Benedet.

Re-signing Braxton Jones makes the most sense, to me, but after he was benched midway through the season I’m not sure how interested he would be in returning to Chicago. Nor, do I know how the coaching staff views Jones.

The Bears won’t be looking at the top end of the tackle market, they’ll be looking for bargains with starter upside. Here are some names to watch:

• Jamaree Salyer, Chargers
• Yosh Nijman, Panthers

Salyer probably isn’t a long term fix at left tackle, but the Bears aren’t looking for one. Salyer does offer versatility as he’s seen time at both left and right tackle, as well as guard.

Nijman would be the cheaper option, he may just be a depth signing as I’m not sure he could win the job from Benedet.

Edge Rusher

A lot of Bears fans are salivating at the possibility of making a trade for Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby. It’s understandable, the Bears pass rush, or lack thereof, was their most glaring weakness in 2025. I just don’t think that a home run swing, like this would be, is Ryan Poles’ style.

The fact is that I’m not sure the Bears make any significant move at edge rusher in free agency. Trey Hendrickson is on the wrong side of 30 for Poles to hand out the type of contract that Hendrickson is going to want. Bradley Chubb & Jaelan Phillips have too checkered an injury history.

Maybe, just maybe, I can see the Bears make a low risk, high reward type signing. Like a one year deal for a veteran like Jadaveon Clowney or Von Miller. But, in all honesty, I expect the Bears to wait until the draft to make any significant addition to their pass rush.

Defensive Tackle

I feel the same way about defensive tackle as I feel about edge rushers, I don’t see the Bears committing significant capital to this position in free agency.

The defensive tackles available are either on the wrong side of 30, like DJ Reader, Calais Campbell or David Onyemata, or they’re likely to be overpriced in the open market like John Franklin-Myers.

The Bears will look to the draft, which is deep at defensive tackle & edge rusher, to make any significant additions to their defensive line.

Linebacker

Tremaine Edmunds is the Bears most obvious cut candidate. A post June 1st release would net the Bears $15 million in cap space. Edmunds has been good, and at times great, for the Bears but he has never lived up to his contract.

The uncertainty surrounding the availability of TJ Edwards for the start of 2026 heightens the Bears needs at linebacker.

The first move to address the linebacker position, in my opinion, is re-signing D’Marco Jackson. Jackson filled in admirably when injury struck the Bears linebackers, even winning defensive player of the week, in 2025. He can retained on a very affordable deal and, at worst, offers depth and special teams value.

I don’t think the Bears will be shopping the top of the market at linebacker, but I do think they’ll make a move here.

The Saints Demario Davis would make sense as a short term fix. Davis has extensive experience in a Dennis Allen defense and he’ll be affordable for the Bears.

A longer term fit, but equally affordable would be the Chiefs Leo Chenal. Chenal has never had a full time role in KC, but he’s flashed play making potential. He also offers versatility, as the Chiefs lined him up in multiple positions.

I think if the Bears go with Davis that they’re likely to draft another linebacker in the middle rounds. If they should sign Chenal, I don’t think that precludes them from drafting another but it makes it less of a priority.

Wide Receiver

There is a strong possibility that the Bears will trade DJ Moore this offseason. They could free up $16.5 million in cap space by dealing him with a post June 1st designation.

Moore still has moments where he reminds you that he’s a true #1 receiver, but those have become more spaced apart. The fact is that, in 2026, he could very well be only the fourth target in the passing game behind Colston Loveland, Rome Odunze & Luther Burden III. The Bears are paying him too much to be just the fourth option.

Even if they keep Moore, the Bears will need to make depth moves at wide receiver. Olamide Zaccheaus & Devin Duvernay are both free agents.

Zaccheaus was okay last season, but he did have some huge drops. I think the Bears should move on.

Duvernay offers value as a return man, but little in the passing game. I’m fine with the Bears bringing him back on another cheap one year deal.

The Bears could let both walk with an eye on a two in one replacement. The Lions’ Kalif Raymond offers similar value in the return game & more value in the passing game than Duvernay.

Letting Zaccheaus & Duvernay both walk and bringing in Raymond would open up some more opportunities for Jahdae Walker, who impressed in limited playing time as a rookie.

Some other free agent WRs that could make sense to replace Zaccheaus would be Tim Patrick, Jalen Tolbert, Tutu Atwell or Dyami Brown.

I wouldn’t rule out the Bears taking another wide receiver in the draft, either.

Cornerback

A post June 1st release or trade of Jaylon Johnson would net the Bears $15.5 million in cap space. It’s a long shot, but it could happen, especially if the Bears are eyeing bigger fish.

Even if they keep Johnson, the Bears still have a need at CB because Nahshon Wright will be leaving for a significant pay raise & Tyrique Stevenson has probably worn out his welcome. Terrell Smith is coming off a torn ACL and nobody knows what to expect from Zah Frazier.

Unless they move on from Jaylon Johnson, I don’t expect the Bears to sniff around the top of the CB market, but they could be active in the secondary tier.

If Seattle lets him walk, Josh Jobe should be on the Bears radar. Jobe will cost less than Wright and while he might not produce the turnovers Wright did, he’s more consistent in coverage.

Some other names to keep an eye on; Cobie Durant, Montaric Brown, Asante Samuel Jr