The 2026 Chicago Bears are off to the best start the organization has had since 2012. They’re 7-2 and leading the NFC North. When examining how it got to this point, most will circle two key reasons for the success. First is the strong contributions of their latest draft class. Safety Dillon Thieneman and cornerback Malik Muhammad have been very good on defense this season. Tight end Sam Roush has been a regular part of the offense, both as a blocker and part-time receiver. Wide receiver Zavion Thomas has also been looking better and better on kick returns. Then you, of course, have the massive trade for defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, who’s been an instant sensation. General manager Ryan Poles deserves plenty of credit for all of that.
Yet not enough people are recognizing something else. You could make a case that 2026 has turned out to be Poles’ best work on the free agency front. For years, the Bears GM has come under heavy scrutiny for his poor decision-making in signing free agents. Most of it is justified. Poles has handed out some bad contracts and made some ugly scouting mistakes.
Ryan Poles cannot and should not escape them.
| Year | Player | Position | Contract Length & Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Larry Ogunjobi (voided) | DT | 3 years, $40.5M (failed physical) |
| 2022 | Justin Jones | DT | 2 years, $12M |
| 2022 | Al-Quadin Muhammad | DE | 2 years, $8M (up to $10M) |
| 2022 | Lucas Patrick | C/G | 2 years, $8M |
| 2022 | Byron Pringle | WR | 1 year, $4M (up to $6M) |
| 2022 | Trevor Siemian | QB | 2 years, $4M |
| 2022 | Nicholas Morrow | LB | 1 year, $3M (up to $5M) |
| 2022 | Dane Cruikshank | S | 1 year ($1M+ guaranteed) |
| 2022 | Equanimeous St. Brown | WR | 1 year |
| 2022 | Khari Blasingame | FB | 1 year |
| 2022 | Dakota Dozier | G | 1 year |
| 2023 | Tremaine Edmunds | LB | 4 years, $72M |
| 2023 | Nate Davis | G | 3 years, $30M |
| 2023 | DeMarcus Walker | DE | 3 years, $21M |
| 2023 | T.J. Edwards | LB | 3 years, $19.5M |
| 2023 | Travis Homer | RB | 2 years, $4.5M |
| 2023 | D’Onta Foreman | RB | 1 year, $3M |
| 2023 | Andrew Billings | DT | 1 year |
| 2023 | Robert Tonyan | TE | 1 year |
| 2023 | PJ Walker | QB | 2 years |
| 2023 | Rasheem Green | DE | 1 year |
| 2023 | Dylan Cole | LB | 1 year |
| 2024 | D’Andre Swift | RB | 3 years, $24M |
| 2024 | Kevin Byard | S | 2 years, $15M |
| 2024 | Gerald Everett | TE | 2 years, $12M |
| 2024 | Jonathan Owens | S | 2 years, $4.75M |
| 2024 | Coleman Shelton | C | 1 year, $3M |
| 2024 | Amen Ogbongbemiga | LB | 1 year, $2.1M |
| 2024 | Jake Martin | DE | 1 year, $1.29M |
| 2024 | DeAndre Carter | WR/KR | 1 year, $1.2M |
| 2024 | Matt Pryor | OT/G | 1 year, $1.18M |
| 2024 | Brett Rypien | QB | 1 year |
| 2024 | Byron Cowart | DT | 1 year |
| 2024 | Jake Curhan | OT | 1 year |
| 2024 | Tarvarius Moore | S | 1 year |
| 2025 | Dayo Odeyingbo | DE | 3 years, $48M |
| 2025 | Grady Jarrett | DT | 3 years, $42.75M |
| 2025 | Drew Dalman | C | 3 years, $42M |
| 2025 | Durham Smythe | TE | 1 year, $2.5M |
| 2025 | Case Keenum | QB | 1 year, $2.25M |
| 2025 | Olamide Zaccheaus | WR | 1 year, $1.5M |
| 2025 | Devin Duvernay | WR/KR | 1 year, $1.34M |
| 2025 | Scott Daly | LS | 1 year, $1.34M |
| 2025 | Nick McCloud | CB | 1 year, $1.32M |
| 2025 | Tanoh Kpassagnon | DE | 1 year, $1.26M |
| 2025 | Nahshon Wright | CB | 1 year, $1.1M |
Outside of 2023, it’s been mostly mediocre.
That year, Poles added four players who made significant contributions to the team. Edmunds, Edwards, and Billings were all with the Bears last year when they made the playoffs. Edmunds has since been traded, and Billings left in free agency. Since then, most of his “hits” have been temporary. Swift and Byard were good ones in 2024. Dalman unfortunately retired after one year, and Wright left after one season as well. With little cap room to work with, Poles faced a scenario that, in all honesty, should’ve been impossible.
Instead, the Bears GM delivered what early signs indicate might be some of his best work.
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- Coby Bryant (S). Signed a three-year, $40 million contract from the Seattle Seahawks.
- Devin Bush (LB). Signed a three-year, $30 million contract.
- Neville Gallimore (DT). Signed a two-year, $10 million contract from the Indianapolis Colts.
- Cam Lewis (CB). Signed a two-year, $6 million contract from the Buffalo Bills.
- Kalif Raymond (WR/KR). Signed a one-year, $3.5 million contract from the Detroit Lions.
- Jedrick Wills (OT). Signed a one-year contract.
- Kentavius Street (DT). Signed a one-year, $1.48 million contract.
- Xavier Woods (S). Signed a one-year, $1.35 million contract.
- James Lynch (DT). Signed a one-year, $1.32 million contract.
- Marcus Davenport (DE). Signed a one-year contract.
- Scotty Miller (WR). Signed a one-year contract.
- Salvon Ahmed (RB). Signed a one-year contract.
- Jon Rhattigan (LB). Signed a one-year contract.
- Anthony Johnson Jr. (S). Signed a one-year contract.
- Jack Sanborn (LB). – Signed a one-year contract
Halfway through the season, the 2026 free agent class has been remarkably successful. Bush is playing at a Pro Bowl level on defense. Lewis has played far above expectations in the secondary. Raymond has made several clutch plays on offense. Lynch has been a key component of the Bears’ run defense and had a massive interception against Seattle. Sanborn has 4 special teams tackles. All of this is without Bryant, their biggest free agent addition, playing a single snap.
It seems like Poles operates better under pressure.
Remember, going into the 2026 offseason, the Bears were actually over the salary cap. It took considerable work by Ryan Poles to get the books in order before free agency began. Chicago was reported to have had around $23 million. When you recall that Las Vegas had $121 million, you realize that the Bears didn’t have much to work with. For them to still somehow snag four significant contributors for their team, with high potential for a fifth? That is nothing short of A+ work by Poles and the front office.
The trick of free agency is finding value without breaking the bank. Most teams struggle to do that. The Bears had serious issues in their first few years. There were legitimate questions about their pro scouting department. However, things seemed to shift when Poles brought in D.J. Hord as the new director of pro scouting. Hord had spent seven years learning under Seahawks GM John Schneider in Seattle, and it shows. Chicago’s talent evaluation on that front seemed to really improve after his arrival.
Credit to Poles for recognizing the need for changes.
