With linebacker injuries and roster changes, Devin Bush arrives to bolster the Bears' defense, potentially filling a crucial veteran gap.
The Chicago Bears filled some key needs in free agency ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft.
General Manager Ryan Poles went out and signed Neville Gallimore, Coby Bryant, Kalif Raymond, Kentavious Street, Jedrick Wills, Cam Lewis and Devin Bush to free-agent deals.
The Bears were in dire need of a linebacker with the current state of the position heading into the offseason.
It started with Noah Sewell, who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions. Then, T.J. Edwards went down with a season-ending fractured fibula in the Wild Card win over the Green Bay Packers.
The timing of those injuries didn't make things easy on the Bears as they continue to evaluate their roster for 2026.
On top of that, Chicago also released linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, despite granting him permission to seek a trade. While the move freed up $15 million in cap space, it was clear that the team needed to find a replacement.
Even though he didn't play a full season, Edmunds put up a respectable 112 total tackles, four interceptions, one sack and three TFLs in 2025.
I actually argued that bringing in former Lions linebacker Alex Anzalone was the ideal move. That way, the Bears could fill their need with someone with a similar playing style to Edmunds without breaking the bank.
However, Anzalone signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in free agency, as the Bears had to look elsewhere to find a linebacker. Chicago even retained D'Marco Jackson, but still needed another veteran presence.
Poles instead signed Bush to a three-year, $30 million deal.
Bush has spent time with the Pittsburgh Steelers (2019-2022), the Seattle Seahawks (2023), and the Cleveland Browns (2024-25). However, he really came into his own with Cleveland.
After not finishing with over 100 total tackles since his rookie year, Bush had 125 in 2025. He also finished with three interceptions, one fumble recovery, seven TFLs and two sacks.
Does that sound familiar to Edmunds' stat line last season? That's because it is.
With Edwards and Sewell out, this was a great move to bring an experienced starter into the linebacker room, but Poles also found a solid replacement for Edmunds. Bush will fill in that coverage linebacker role on Dennis Allen's defense quite nicely.
The Bears were desperately searching for another linebacker who could fill the role that Edmunds had for the last three seasons, and have found it in a tenured starter in Bush.
Losing Edmunds was unfortunately very likely, given the Bears' cap situation before free agency. After trading D.J. Moore, along with forfeited salary from Drew Dalman's retirement and Edmunds' release, the Bears had enough to bring in Bush, and it could be the home run signing this defense needed.
It will be like Edmunds never truly left Allen's defense, as a reliable tackler and someone who can cause problems for opposing offenses in pass coverage.
The move could be precisely what the Bears needed this offseason. Chicago still has a need for an edge rusher, which could be found in the draft, but Poles filled a massive one at linebacker.