2026 Bears mock offseason: Free agency and draft moves after playoffs

The Bears’ season is over. It’s time for a mock offseason. I’ll be making my picks for free agency, the draft, open coaching positions, and which cuts, trades, and restructures to make to create some cap space. You know the drill. Let’s get into it.

Bears coaching hires

Offensive coordinator: Bears QBs coach J.T. Barrett
Running backs coach: Dolphins RBs coach Eric Studesville

I originally had this article starting out with just the cuts and restructures, but I procrastinated too long, and the Bears had some coaching positions start to open up. You reap what you sow in this world, and I’ve sown myself a whole new section to this article, I guess.

Listed as a potential future head coaching candidates by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero late in 2025, J.T. Barrett is just 31 years old and has only been coaching since 2022. That said, he meets a similar model to the addition of Declan Doyle last offseason: he’s young, he’s been rapidly rising up the ranks, and he’s seen success in the units he’s coached over time. An assistant QBs coach for two years with the Lions before taking on the mantle of QBs coach for Chicago this year, having an OC with familiarity to Ben Johnson’s system and with Caleb Williams is a nice bonus.

Eric Studesville was a name thrown out by Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune as a possible Eric Bieniemy replacement after the former left to become the Chiefs’ OC. When Biggs usually speculates something, there’s sourced information backing it up. Studesville overlapped with Johnson for a few years with the Dolphins and has been an NFL running backs coach every single season dating back to 2001.

Cuts and restructures

Cut LB Tremaine Edmunds ($15 million)
Cut LB Amen Ogbongbemiga ($2 million)
Restructure LG Joe Thuney ($7.6 million)
Restructure C Drew Dalman ($5 million)
Restructure RG Jonah Jackson ($6.8 million)
Restructure CB Jaylon Johnson ($6.9 million)
Restructure TE Cole Kmet ($4.4 million)

I’ve seen some argue that the Bears shouldn’t cut Tremaine Edmunds, or rather, extend him. There’s certainly validity to that, as he looked quite good before getting hurt, and he’s still just 27 years old. However, he played at an average level for his first two seasons in Chicago, and he reverted back to that inconsistent level of play upon coming back from injury. In his first 10 starts this year, he allowed a passer rating above 100.0 just twice. In his final five games, he surpassed that 100.0 mark allowed in every single game. Edmunds isn’t a bad player, but he’s the third-highest linebacker in annual salary in the NFL, and he’s a far cry from the third-best LB in the league.

When you’re looking for restructure candidates for the Bears this offseason, you’re looking for players you’re confident will be on the team in 2027, because you’re increasing the cap hit for each of those players next offseason. I feel confident that Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson will stay on the team, given the quality of their play in 2025. Joe Thuney has shown no signs of slowing down; I’d argue the only chance of him not being in Chicago in 2027 would be if he retires after next year, which would nullify the increase 2027 cap hit. Cole Kmet I’m fine paying a little extra for a TE2, given his receiving reliability and value as a run blocker. I don’t see a hurry to move off his contract by any means.

Jaylon Johnson was the one player I was 50/50 on. Coming off an injury that saw him miss most of 2025, he looked a step slow athletically once he returned. However, going over his All-22 upon his return, he’s still processing at a quick level and showing ideal physicality working through the receivers’ stems in man coverage. With a full offseason to recover and take things slow, I think he can get back to a quality starting cornerback.

The Bears have a couple other expensive contracts they could restructure this offseason. Candidates I’ve seen include Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Grady Jarrett. However, the latter two stand out as easy cut candidates in 2027. Neither Odeyingbo nor Jarrett lived up to their contracts in 2025, and they would save a combined $27.75 million by releasing them both next offseason. Restructuring them this offseason makes zero sense when you have such an easy out in those bad contracts.

After these cuts and restructures, you still have plenty of cap flexibility for 2027, as well as a lot more cap space in 2026. If you cut Odeyingbo and Jarrett in 2027 — as well as factoring in a trade I’m about to mention shortly — you’d have over $76 million that year to extend Darnell Wright, pay another starter if you want (Swift, Dexter, Stevenson?), and make other moves in free agency.

Updated cap space: $31.34 million

Trades

Bears trade WR DJ Moore to Steelers for fourth-round pick — No. 121 overall — in 2026 NFL Draft ($16.5 million)

This is going to arguably be the most controversial move of the bunch, as there have been many people who have been vocal about wanting to keep DJ Moore on the Bears’ roster in 2026. I see the reasoning for that argument, and there’s validity to it. For one, he provides a proven veteran starter at wide receiver which Chicago would be lacking otherwise. People also point to Moore’s clutch catches in the second half of the season as reasons to keep him. There’s also an emotional attachment to the player that I’d assume plays into their stance, as well.

To me, I just can’t justify spending $28.5 million of my cap space on a declining wide receiver whose effort was an issue all year. He went from 1,364 receiving yards in 2023 to 966 in 2024, then to a career-low 682 in 2025. His yards per route run dropped to a career-low 1.24, too. On tape, there are several instances where he’s seemingly running his routes at half speed. It’s not to take advantage of soft spots against zone coverage by changing his pacing, either; he just isn’t disguising his route concepts or exploding out of his breaks consistently.

You can have your opinions on if he gave up on that last Caleb Williams interception in the Divisional Round. But watching his tape and seeing a lack of effort being a recurring theme in Moore’s game this year, I choose to believe he did.

You can’t blame Caleb Williams for the INT in OT….. the Bears have the absolute perfect play called

The lack of effort by #2 is really telling….you can’t give up on this route like this. #DaBears pic.twitter.com/E584tOmEQR

— Chase Daniel (@ChaseDaniel) January 19, 2026

Moore is still a solid starting wide receiver, but he’s far from the massive cap hit he’s projected at in 2026. He just isn’t a great fit in Ben Johnson’s system, on top of that. The selling point here as a trade option is that Moore still produced fairly well in a crowded Bears’ offense, and Chicago’s still eating $12 million off his contract in a trade. For a WR-needy team like the Steelers, getting a proven veteran at $16.5 million for a cheaper trade value is a better option than many of the wide receivers slated to hit free agency this year.

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell believes Moore would get a market as a trade option and would likely net the Bears a mid-round pick. When you see where I have this extra cap space going, you’ll understand why I decided to move off of Moore.

Updated cap space: $47.84 million

Extensions

LB D’Marco Jackson: One year, $2.5 million
WR Olamide Zaccheaus: One year, $1.3 million
OG/C Ryan Bates: One year, $1.17 million
SS Elijah Hicks: One year, $1.17 million
LS Scott Daly: One year, $1.17 million

All things considered, Kevin Byard is the easiest extension choice the Bears could make this offseason. He played at an All-Pro level in 2025, leading the NFL in interceptions. Given his age, a long-term deal seems unlikely, and salary cap specialty sites seem to expect Byard’s annual salary to stay similar on his next contract. Even if he doesn’t replicate his seven interceptions next year, retaining him at under $8 million a year seems like a no-brainer.

I heavily debated extending Jaquan Brisker, and Braxton Jones and Nahshon Wright could return to the team if the value is right. However, I anticipate all three are going to get contracts larger than what the Bears are willing to pay. Besides, this free agency class is talented at safety, so I like the idea of adding an outside replacement a little better.

D’Marco Jackson and Olamide Zaccheaus are players I have sliding into cheaper one-year deals to compete for rotational roles. Jackson looked really good in limited playing time this past season, and Zaccheaus was much more efficient and less drop-heavy when he wasn’t forced into too big of a role in Chicago’s offense. Neither are star signings, but both provide quality depth to their respective positions.

Updated cap space: $37.81 million

EDITOR: Offensive lineman Jordan McFadden is a restricted free agent who may not warrant a tender offer from the Bears, but is a guy the Bears would probably want back. He feels like a veteran minimum type, so adjust the math accordingly.

Free agent signings

DE Trey Hendrickson: Three years, $78 million ($26M AAV, $15M cap hit in 2026)
SS Kamren Curl: Three years, $32 million ($10.7M AAV, $5M cap hit in 2026)
LB Germaine Pratt: One year, $2.9 million
WR/KR Dareke Young: One year, $1.2 million

With the cap flexibility I created for 2026, I was able to make space for two splash signings for the Bears. The first one is the biggest swing of all: Trey Hendrickson.

A four-time Pro Bowler with 61.0 sacks in 72 games with the Bengals, Hendrickson is pass-rushing lightning in a bottle. He’s an explosive, incredibly crafty edge defender who knows how to win at the line of scrimmage. There will likely be a steep market for him, even being over 30 with a season-ending injury to his name. He’s one of very few blue-chip players hitting the open market this offseason, and he plays at arguably the Bears’ biggest need. Pursuing him heavily should be a given, assuming they free up enough space.

Instead of extending Brisker, I chose to sign Kamren Curl over from the Rams for slightly more money. It would be an upgrade at the strong safety position, and Curl has missed just two games in the last three seasons to Brisker’s 14. Curl had more interceptions, a lower passer rating allowed, gave up fewer touchdowns, and had a similar missed tackle percentage in the single digits. That improved ability in coverage, similar versatility and tackling value, and more durability makes him a worthy addition to the Bears’ secondary.

The other two signings are depth pieces. Germaine Pratt actually fared very well in 2025 after getting cut by the Raiders midseason, grading with an 88.8 PFSN LB Impact Score with the Colts that ranked seventh at his position. Dareke Young had nine special teams tackles this season for the Seahawks, averaging 32.2 yards per kick return in the process, too.

Updated cap space: $13.61 million

2026 Bears mock draft

Round 1: Kayden McDonald, DT, Ohio State
Round 2: Josiah Trotter, LB, Missouri
Round 3: Skyler Bell, WR, UConn
Round 4 (via Steelers, projected trade): Michael Taaffe, S, Texas
Round 4 (via Rams): Gabe Jacas, EDGE, Illinois
Round 5: Travis Burke, OT, Memphis
Round 7 (from Eagles via Browns): Nate Boerkircher, TE, Texas A&M
Round 7: Seth McGowan, RB, Kentucky

With edge rusher and safety addressed in the short term, I opted to focus on a defensive tackle draft class with plenty of late Round 1 value. Using the PFSN Mock Draft Simulator to make the picks for the other 31 NFL teams, I ended up with Kayden McDonald to boost the defensive line. He’s a powerful run defender with a sturdy anchor, forceful hands, and a good understanding of when and how to stack and shed blocks in order to make tackles near the line of scrimmage. He has solid juice and good effort as a pass rusher, indicating there’s untapped potential there, too.

Jackson and Pratt are good linebacker additions to compete for the LB3 role, but I wanted to swing a little higher at the position in the draft, especially if T.J. Edwards regresses further. Josiah Trotter is a pro-ready, Day 1 starting linebacker who brings ultra-quick processing skills in run support, combining that with precise movements in pursuit and ideal form and physicality as a tackler. As he looks to grow in coverage, I might argue he’s the most polished run stopper in the 2026 linebacker class.

A wide receiver for the Bears in Round 3 might surprise some people, but Skyler Bell is a player worth taking at this stage of the draft, especially if they end up trading DJ Moore. Bell was insanely productive with 101 catches, 1,278 yards, and 13 touchdowns for UConn this past season. He’s a sure-handed receiver who’s quick off the snap, accelerates well out of his breaks, and works the stem well to exploit leverage points he has against defensive backs.

As far as Day 3 goes, I like to think I filled it up with good depth and special teams upside. Michael Taaffe is a former walk-on who’s turned into a smart, fluid safety with good ball skills. Gabe Jacas is an effective power rusher off the edge whose craftiness could make him a steal in Round 4 if teams overthink his speed concerns. Travis Burke is one of the better zone-run blockers in the class, moving very well for a 6’9” offensive tackle. Nate Boerkircher didn’t do much in the receiving game for Texas A&M but showed strong hands and tenacity as a run blocker. Finally, you have Seth McGowan, who’s a 6’1”, 215-pound power back with good vision and physicality in between the tackles.