Chicago Bears

Jack Sanborn

LB

Sanborn is returning to Chicago, where he spent the first three years of his career before signing with the Cowboys for the 2025 campaign. The 25-year-old has seemingly recovered from the groin injury that landed him on Dallas' injured reserve last November and will likely serve in a depth role with the Bears during the upcoming campaign.

James Lynch

DT

Lynch played with the Vikings from 2020-23 and with the Titans from 2024-25, and he will now provide interior defensive line depth in Chicago. While suiting up for all 17 regular-season games with Tennessee in 2025, Lynch totaled 25 tackles (14 solo), including a half-sack, plus one pass defensed.

Elijah Hicks

S

The 2022 seventh-round pick from California is now slated to remain in Chicago after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the team. Hicks appeared in 17 regular-season games in 2025, recording 19 total tackles across 371 total snaps (309 on special teams, 62 on defense). He's expected to remain one of the Bears' top special-teamers during the 2026 campaign.

Jedrick Wills Jr.

OT

Following back-to-back injury-ruined seasons in 2023 and 2024, Wills sat out the 2025 campaign to let his knees heal. He's still just 26 years old and was the No. 10 overall pick in the 2020 Draft by the Browns. Wills gives the Bears a risk-free flyer at left tackle after Ozzy Trapilo suffered a torn patellar tendon in the wild-card win over the Packers in January.

Rome Odunze

WR

Moore might've only been the No. 3 receiver anyway if he'd returned to Chicago after plummeting to a 16.0 percent target rate in 2025 while easily leading the team in routes run (512). The Bears also lost WR Oladime Zaccheaus (305 routes), who is signing with Atlanta. There's plenty of time to add competition behind Odunze and Burden, but it does seem clear that those two and TE Colston Loveland will lead the team in targets in 2026 if they stay relatively healthy. Odunze said in January that he didn't anticipate needing surgery for the foot injury that cost him five games at the end of the regular season (he returned for two postseason games, posting 2-44-0 receiving lines in both). He failed to maintain a hot start in 2025, his second pro season, but there were still some promising signs overall, including a 24.4 percent target rate and six TDs in 12 regular-season games. Odunze, Burden and Loveland are all popular fantasy breakout candidates for 2026.

Luther Burden III

WR

Burden would've been a popular 2026 breakout candidate even if the Bears had kept Moore, who was targeted on just 16.0 percent of his routes last season. Burden had a team-high 26.1 percent target rate while ranking fourth among all qualified pass catchers with 2.83 yards per route, but with a mere 41 percent route share across 15 regular-season games. His playing time and production improved as the season progressed, with Burden catching at least three passes in each of his final 10 appearances (including two playoff games). With Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus (Falcons) no longer playing for Chicago, the passing attack figures to flow through Burden, WR Rome Odunze and TE Colston Loveland.

Kentavius Street

DT

Street spent the past three seasons with the Falcons and is now set to head to Chicago. The 29-year-old has amassed 10.5 sacks across his eight-year career and will likely serve as a depth defender with the Bears.

Kalif Raymond

WR

Raymond spent the past five years in Detroit returning punts and kickoffs while typically serving as the third or fourth receiver. He'll turn 32 before Week 1 in 2026 but should be able to handle a similar role for the Bears. The move to Chicago reunites Raymond with head coach Ben Johnson, formerly the offensive coordinator for the Lions.

Braxton Jones

OT

Jones lost his starting job at left tackle to 2025 second-rounder Ozzy Trapilo last season, but Trapilo suffered a serious knee injury in Chicago's wild-card win over the Packers and could miss the beginning of the 2026 campaign. Jones gives the Bears an experienced option, though he could face competition for the spot.

Case Keenum

QB

Keenum served as the third-string quarterback behind Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent in 2025. That role isn't expected to change in 2026, but Chicago values the 38-year-old Keenum's experience and will keep Keenum aboard as a mentor to Williams.

Neville Gallimore

DT

Gallimore's presence will help shore up the Bears' run defense. The veteran defensive tackle logged a career year with Indianapolis in 2025, suiting up for all 17 regular-season games and totaling 38 tackles (18 solo), including 3.5 sacks, plus three passes defensed.

D'Marco Jackson

LB

Jackson can earn up to $10.5 million on his new contract with incentives. He made the first four starts of his three-year NFL career during the 2025 regular season while appearing in 16 games. The 27-year-old linebacker spent the preceding two seasons with the Saints.

Devin Bush

LB

Bush's contract, which officially can be signed Wednesday at the start of the new league year, includes $21 million in guaranteed money. The 27-year-old linebacker is coming off a standout season with the Browns in which he racked up 125 tackles and three interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns.

Coby Bryant

S

Bryant was part of Seattle's Super Bowl-winning team, notching 66 tackles (39 solo) and four interceptions across 15 regular-season starts in 2025 before adding 10 tackles (eight solo) and two passes defensed in three playoff victories. He'll slot right in as a starting safety with the Bears after his lucrative new contract becomes official at the start of the new league year Wednesday.

Daniel Hardy

DE

Hardy was scheduled to be a restricted free agent this week but now will stick in Chicago through the 2027 campaign. The 27-year-old appeared in all 17 regular-season games last season, logging 22 tackles (seven solo) as a core special teams player for Chicago.

Garrett Bradbury

C

Bradbury joined the Patriots on a two-year, $9.5 million contract in March of 2025 after spending the first six years of his NFL career with the Vikings, but the 2019 first-rounder will head back to the NFC North as a member of the Bears. He has started in all 105 regular-season games he's appeared in and is slated to serve as the Bears' starting center for 2026 following the retirement of Drew Dalman on Tuesday.

Tyson Bagent

QB

Bagent was signed by the Bears as an undrafted free agent out of Shepherd in 2023 and started four games as a rookie, completing 94 of 143 passes for 859 yards, three touchdowns and six interceptions across five total appearances. He's attempted just six regular-season passes over the last two campaigns but has looked good during the preseason when on the field. Bagent has two years remaining on his contract at $4 million each season, so he's very affordable and could be a stop-gap option for a rebuilding team.

Ozzy Trapilo

OT

questionable

Shemar Turner

DT

questionable

Terell Smith

CB

questionable

Noah Sewell

LB

questionable

Dayo Odeyingbo

DE

questionable

Roschon Johnson

RB

questionable

Deion Hankins

RB

questionable

Zah Frazier

CB

questionable