The Chicago Bears have executed what has to be, at least on paper, one of their better free agency periods in the past several years. Despite not having a wealth of cap space to work with compared to other teams, they’ve managed to address several needs without overextending themselves. Safety Coby Bryant comes over from the world champion Seahawks, bringing seven interceptions in the past two seasons and plenty of leadership credentials. Speedy and battle-tested linebacker Devin Bush fills a glaring hole at outside linebacker. Braxton Jones returns to stabilize the left tackle spot while Neville Gallimore brings them some pass rush juice in the middle.
While it’s been a period light on splashes, the Bears look like a younger, faster team than they did a couple of days ago. With cap space dwindling, it’s unlikely they will take a big swing. However, there are still some notable names on the market who could be great bargain additions, capping what has been a good start to March. It would beautifully set up their plans for the draft in April.
The Chicago Bears have some intriguing names left out there.
DT D.J. Reader
Neville Gallimore and Kentavius Street are the latest arrivals at defensive tackle for the Bears. Both of them bring a much-needed element of interior pass rush to the mix. Neither is prime Aaron Donald, obviously, but that at least gives Dennis Allen some added juice up the middle. What he still doesn’t have at the moment is a reliable nose tackle. Run defense was just as big a problem for the Bears last season, ranking 27th in the NFL. Reader has been one of the more dependable nose tackles in the league for the past decade. If anybody can help clog up the middle a bit better, it will be him. He’s also good for 20-30 interior pressures as well.
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EDGE Cameron Jordan
Few NFL players age like fine wine. Jordan seems to be one of those exceptions. Despite being 36 years old in 2025, he still posted 10.5 sacks for the New Orleans Saints, proving his pass rush prowess hasn’t left him yet. It looks like his old team is ready to move on, so now he’s looking for a new home. Allen coached him for almost a decade in New Orleans. The Chicago Bears have an obvious need at edge rusher. Bringing in Jordan on a one-year deal allows the veteran to join a playoff contender while the team gets some help at one of the positions they’ve needed the most.
CB Kaiir Elam
Al Harris proved last year that he can be a maestro at orchestrating career revivals. Nahshon Wright looked like a lost cause after getting cut by Minnesota. He came to Chicago, had five interceptions last season, and now gets a nice payday from the Jets. Elam was a 1st round pick in 2022, boasting the ideal mix of size, length, and athleticism. Unfortunately, things never clicked for him in Buffalo, and he was traded to Dallas. There, he played sparingly and was eventually cut, finishing the season in Tennessee. He is still just 24 years old. His talent hasn’t left him. What he needs is somebody who can fix his technique and boost his confidence. Harris is just the man for the job.
RB Rachaad White
Running back isn’t as pressing an issue for the Bears as other positions, but it could still use some depth. D’Andre Swift stayed healthy last season. Betting on that to continue is a bit dangerous. Kyle Monangai is good, but they could use another body for Ben Johnson’s run-heavy attack. White isn’t a premier athlete or great tackle-breaker, but he’s a good pass-catcher and has the vision and patience to find the holes when they appear. He’s been good for at least 40 catches and 770 total yards every season of his career. Having somebody like that as the third option on the depth chart would be ideal.
