Despite high-profile departures, a top-three offensive line and a dynamic backfield back Chicago’s franchise quarterback as analysts name the Bears a premier destination for signal-caller success.
The Chicago Bears lost plenty of players on both sides of the ball this offseason.
Safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker were two of the biggest departures on defense. Linebacker Tremaine Edmunds was released beforehand to free up $15 million in cap space.
Defensive backs Nahshon Wright and C.J. Gardner-Johnson left the team in free agency as well.
On offense, Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman announced his retirement from the NFL. The Bears decided to trade receiver D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills and let Olamide Zaccheaus walk in free agency.
The Bears were able to trade for Garrett Bradbury with the New England Patriots, and they are going to have the same running back tandem in D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai in 2026.
At receiver, there are some new faces.
Kalif Raymond joined the team after spending multiple years with the Detroit Lions. Then, the Bears selected Zavion Thomas out of LSU in the 2026 NFL Draft. Undrafted free agents Kyron Hudson and Omari Kelly joined the team as receivers.
Chicago made some changes, but the team is still mostly intact. This had some impact on how high Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano graded the Bears' supporting cast around Caleb Williams.
He ranked all 32 NFL teams based on the supporting cast around their starting quarterbacks, and ranked the Bears third.
"That’s great for QB Caleb Williams, who is protected by a top-three offensive line and has a thunder-and-lightning backfield with Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift," Vacchiano said. 'You can game plan to stop one,' one scout told me, 'but not both.' What Williams really needs is for a wide receiver to emerge so that tight end Colston Loveland doesn’t have to be his top target. Either Rome Odunze or Luther Burden could fill that void, though the former must first show that there aren't any lingering issues in his foot after suffering a stress fracture late last year."
The only position on the offensive line that changed for Williams is center. Either Braxton Jones or Theo Benedet will start at left tackle, but the rest of the starters are back.
It looks like the starting receivers are going to be Rome Odunze, Luther Burden and Raymond. Williams also gets one of his favorite targets back from last year in breakout tight end Colston Loveland.
On top of being protected by one of the best offensive lines in football, Williams has a pretty solid supporting cast around him.
Hopefully, the Bears can play more complementary football in 2026 if the defense can be more consistent.
