The Chicago Bears' biggest needs were clear entering 2026 free agency and the NFL Draft. 

Coach Ben Johnson could have used more stability at left tackle after four different players started at the position throughout the 2025 season. Center also became a priority after Drew Dalman retired in early March. 

With the team's inconsistent pass rush, defensive end was an obvious need to help address defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's unit. Starting safeties Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker left in free agency, creating holes at the backend of the defense.

Left tackle. Center. Defensive End. Safety. 

Those were the biggest holes on the roster, and the Bears (somewhat) addressed three of those positions through free agency and the draft. To upgrade center, the Bears traded for veteran Garrett Bradbury and drafted Logan Jones in the second round. 

Super Bowl winning safety Coby Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million contract, and Poles used the team's first-round draft pick to select Dillion Thieneman with the 25th overall pick. 

The Bears did sign former-first round draft pick Jedrick Wills to a one-year deal, but this addition will be discussed later. 

Of course, there were plenty more moves that were and weren't made this offseason. ESPN's Seth Walder assessed those decisions, including signings, trades, cuts, contracts, draft compensation, etc., and assigned a letter grade for each team.

The Bears' offseason moves earned the team a B+ grade -- tying them with the Browns, Packers, Giants, 49ers. 

Walder liked the Bears' decision to trade DJ Moore to the Buffalo Bills and the value Poles got in return. 

"Chicago opened its second offseason of the Ben Johnson era with a strong value trade, getting a second-round pick for Moore and a fifth-round selection," Walder wrote. "That might not sound incredible, but consider the situation. Moore was coming off consecutive disappointing seasons and the extension he signed prior to the 2024 campaign is really kicking into gear only now. Even though there are hefty cash salaries remaining on the contract, the Bears somehow got the Bills to give up real draft capital to take that money off Chicago's books."

Chicago led the league in takeaways last season, but creating turnovers is "high leverage but fluky" as Walder pointed out, so overhauling the safety positions made sense. 

Like many people, Walder thought this Bears team "could have used reinforcements on the edge."

I won't argue that Poles didn't make some-much needed moves, ones that helped the roster going into the 2026 season. 

But two of the most important positions, on any team, were neglected. The Bears are running it back with the same group of edge rushers that struggled last season, excluding Montez Sweat who put together a good year. That's a lot of faith for a unit that has two defensive linemen coming off season-ending injuries in Dayo Odeyingbo and Shemar Turner.

There's a competition at left tackle between Braxton Jones and Wills. Jones was benched in Week 4 last season and Wills hasn't played a football game since Nov. 3, 2024. Wills' deal is worth just $1.215 million, so there isn't a large financial commitment, but he was the only addition brought in to compete for the starting job. 

The Bears drafted Ozzy Trapilo in the second round last year, but he will likely miss this upcoming season because of the torn patellar tendon he sustained in the wild-card matchup against the Packers. 

The team will have to hope that Jones can remain healthy and play at a serviceable level to provide some stability on Caleb Williams' blindside. 

I would have assigned the Bears a B- for their offseason moves. Some good transactions and additions were made, but the two biggest holes on the team from last season are still there going into 2026.