Chicago Bears

Cairo Santos

PK

Santos had an uneven 2025 season, making just 25 of 30 field-goal attempts, including going 4-for-6 from 50-plus yards. However, he made all 39 of point-after tries and hit several clutch FGs, including a game-winning 48-yard kick as time expired against Minnesota in Week 11. With that said, the 12-year veteran doesn't have anywhere near the strongest leg in the league, and he missed a pair of contests last year due to a thigh injury. The Bears don't currently have another kicker on the roster, so Santos looks set to open 2026 as the team's primary option at that position. However, Barbieri and Sugrue suggest Chicago could move on at some point given Santos' lack of a big leg, which puts him behind most top kickers in the league.

Caleb Williams

QB

Williams was a standout during the offseason program after he took multiple steps forward under Johnson's tutelage last season. While his completion percentage dipped from 62.5 percent as a rookie to 58.1 percent in 2025, Williams' touchdowns (27), touchdown rate (4.8 percent), adjusted yards per attempt (7.3) and yards per completion (11.9) all saw significant boosts. He was also sacked just 24 times after absorbing a league-high 68 sacks as a 2024 rookie. Williams certainly has MVP aspirations headed into his third pro season at just 24 years old.

Kyle Monangai

RB

Monangai impressed out of the gate as a rookie seventh-round pick in 2025, beating out Roschon Johnson for the No. 2 running back role and carving out a steady workload alongside Swift. He finished with 783 rushing yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries while adding 18 catches for 164 yards across 17 regular-season games. Though he lacks Swift's explosiveness and receiving ability, Monangai is a natural runner who fits Ben Johnson's scheme well. He would inherit a valuable workload if Swift were to miss any time in 2026.

D'Andre Swift

RB

Swift offers more explosiveness and pass-catching ability than Monangai, though both backs are expected to play significant roles in coach Ben Johnson's offense behind Chicago's revamped offensive line. Across 16 regular-season appearances in 2025, Swift rushed 223 times for 1,087 yards and a career-high nine touchdowns while adding 34 catches for 299 yards and another score on 48 targets. The 27-year-old is heading into the final year of his contract with the Bears.

Sam Roush

TE

The Bears thought highly enough of Roush to take the Stanford product in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 69th overall. However, as a rookie, the 6-foot-6, 267 pounder's path to steady targets isn't apparent while working in an offense that returns TEs Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet.