With 2026 NFL free agency approaching, there will be several moves for Bears general manager Ryan Poles to consider. Here are three that must be at the top of his list.
Starting at noon ET on Monday, the NFL's legal tampering period will begin.
Teams can agree to terms with players, but the deals can’t be finalized until Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET – the start of free agency. In that time as well, players can change their decisions.
The Chicago Bears will have many decisions to contemplate over the next week, especially given the positions that need addressing throughout the entire roster. General manager Ryan Poles won’t tackle everything, as expected, but three moves should be at the top of his list.
Find a Left Tackle
Realistically, the Bears’ Week 1 left tackle is not currently on the roster. Ozzy Trapilo’s patellar tendon injury opened a gaping hole on the offensive line.
Given that the left tackle will be protecting Caleb Williams’ blind side, it’s a position that shouldn’t be patched up with just anybody. That’s why Lions left tackle Taylor Decker would be a perfect match to fill the position for at least the 2026 season.
Decker, 33, announced on social media that he and the team that drafted him No. 16 overall in the 2016 NFL Draft are set to part ways. The veteran offensive lineman started 140 games over the past 10 seasons.
Despite missing three games with a shoulder injury last season and dealing with some nagging injuries, he gave up just three sacks and 33 total quarterback pressures. Decker would provide stability, consistency and leadership to a Bears team that desperately needs it at the left tackle position.
Re-sign Your Own
The Bears have lost some good players over the last week. Drew Dalman retired, DJ Moore was traded and Tremaine Edmunds was released. Instead of subtracting, Poles must work with veteran safety Kevin Byard to keep him on the roster.
Both parties have publicly stated their interest in wanting to make a deal work. As with most of these situations, money will be the ultimate decider.
Byard will be 33 in September, but the veteran safety proved last season that he is still a productive player in this league. He led the NFL with seven interceptions in his 10th season, which ended with Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro honors. He roamed the backend of Dennis Allen’s defense and made big plays all season for Chicago.
He also provides a leadership element that can’t be overlooked. Byard was one of five captains last season and always broke down the huddle before games. Poles needs to figure out how to keep Byard on a defensive unit that needs more playmakers.
Adding on Defense
The Bears’ pass-rush issues last season get most of the blame for the defense’s inconsistent play, but the unit also struggled to contain opponents’ run games. Adding one player won’t change the trajectory of the defense, so that’s why the Bears have to look for several on all three levels: defensive line, linebacker and the secondary.
Cincinnati’s Trey Hendrickson would be the big-ticket free agent and would drastically upgrade a Bears’ pass rush that finished 27th last season in pressure rate. It’s fair to question, though, if Chicago would be willing to acquire his services. He could earn upwards of $28 million a year.
Detroit’s Alex Anzalone would make sense to address the linebacker position. The 31-year-old finished his ninth season in the NFL with 95 total tackles, 2.5 sacks, nine passes defensed an an interception. Like Hendrickson, he also has familiarity with Allen as his defensive play caller when the three were in New Orleans.
The goal for Poles should be to come away from free agency with fewer questions on the roster than when the week started. If the Bears can do that, the team will be in a good position to continue adding talent in the 2026 NFL Draft.