The Chicago Bears now have to make some big-time decisions when it comes to the players who are set to hit free agency. 

It was a historic first season with head coach Ben Johnson at the helm. The Bears finished the regular season 11-6 and won their first NFC North title since 2018. It was the first time since 2020 that the franchise had been to the playoffs. 

Chicago then ended another streak by winning its first playoff game since 2010, taking down hated rival, the Green Bay Packers, 31-27 in the Wild Card round. 

The magic didn't last too much longer, though. The Bears then advanced to the Divisional Round and were beaten 20-17 in overtime by the Los Angeles Rams, ending their 2025 season. 

Plenty of key players like Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker are now set to hit the free agent market on March 11 when it opens. 

Something to consider when talking about the possibility of bringing some of these players back for another run is their market value. Here's how much the top free agents from Chicago are worth in terms of market value, courtesy of Spotrac:

You thought that Jaquan Brisker would have the highest market value, didn't you? 

This shouldn't come as a surprise if you've kept up with the kind of season that Nahson Wright had. Wright had a breakout season with Chicago, ending with 80 total tackles, five interceptions, three TFLs, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries. 

He really held things down in the secondary at times with the injuries to Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon, but is Chicago willing to spend this much on a new deal? 

Brisker has earned himself a nice little payday now that his rookie contract has expired with the Bears. 

He may have been overshadowed by the season that Byard had, but Brisker put up some very solid numbers. It felt like Brisker was everywhere this season, finishing with 93 total tackles, one interception, one sack and one TFL. 

His market value could make it hard to reach a new deal with the Bears. 

Byard may be 32, but he's still got it. 

Byard just had one of the best seasons of his career, making his third-ever Pro Bowl. He led the league with seven interceptions and was also a veteran leader in that Bears locker room. 

His value goes far beyond what he does when he's on the field. However, it seems the Bears can afford to bring back either Byard or Brisker, but not both. 

Braxton Jones is another player whose rookie deal ran out with the Bears following the 2025 season. 

Jones was actually the starting left tackle for the Bears at the beginning of the season, but then was benched in favor of Theo Benedet. 

Now, with the recent injury to Ozzy Trapilo, the Bears are in a tight spot at left tackle. Chicago could bring Jones back to add some extra depth, as Trapilo's recovery will keep him out until at least late in the 2026 season. 

While everyone focused on the season that Montez Sweat had, Andrew Billings quietly had a productive year on the interior of the defensive line. 

Billings played in 17 games with 14 starts, recording 31 total tackles, one sack and six TFLs. Even though Billings is in his 30s, like Byard, he proved he can still be a productive member of the defense. 

Plus, Billings' value has actually gone down now that his contract is up, making a new deal even easier. Billings was previously valued at $4 million. 

C.J. Gardner-Johnson was a welcome reinforcement in the Chicago secondary. 

When Kyler Gordon went down, it became clear that the Bears needed someone to fill in at nickel corner. Gardner-Johnson did just that, and his value has now risen from $1.2 million to $2.3 million. 

The veteran defensive back revived his career in Chicago, ending with 51 total tackles, three sacks, two interceptions and five TFLs. 

Chicago definitely has some tough choices to make when it comes to contracts, but some are definitely easier than others.