The Chicago Bears have been busy in free agency. Coming off an NFC North division title and a home playoff win over their division-rival Packers, the Bears are setting up to take another step in 2026.
The offense is in a pretty good place, though wide receiver and center could be looked at early in the draft to add some long-term pieces at both positions. But defense is the priority for the Bears at this point. Chicago led the NFL in takeaways in 2025 but struggled to consistently stop opposing offenses when they couldn’t force turnovers, and the Bears defense lost some key pieces from a year ago.
ESPN Analyst Highlights the Chicago Bears’ Need at Cornerback
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – OCTOBER 06: Kyler Gordon #6 and Jaylon Johnson #1 of the Chicago Bears celebrate a third down stop against the Carolina Panthers at Soldier Field on October 06, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)
On Wednesday, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell discussed the remaining needs for various contending teams in 2026. Here’s what he said about the Bears:
“On defense, though, there’s still work to be done,” Barnwell wrote. “[Bears GM Ryan] Poles admitted that the Bears were interested in trading for Maxx Crosby, and Chicago could still add another pass rusher. But for now, the pursuit of a star edge rusher appears to be on the back burner. The Bears released Tremaine Edmunds and replaced him with former Browns starter Devin Bush, while safeties Jaquan Brisker, C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Kevin Byard III — the latter coming off a first-team All-Pro nod — have been replaced by Super Bowl winner Coby Bryant and former Bills safety Cam Lewis.”
“The Bears will start Bryant as their free safety, Kyler Gordon in the slot and Jaylon Johnson outside, but there are still pieces to be added in the secondary,” Barnwell continued. “Lewis profiles as a dime safety as opposed to an every-down player. Tyrique Stevenson hasn’t been the same since that fateful Hail Mary against the Commanders in 2024.”
“The Bears probably still need to add a starting cornerback and a safety comfortable playing in the box between now and the start of the 2026 season.”
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell on Some Veteran Cornerback Options for the Chicago Bears
“Most of the young, starting-caliber cornerbacks have already signed elsewhere, leaving the Bears without a plug-and-play option on the outside,” Barnwell wrote. “The veteran corners who were going to be cap casualties have already hit the market. They’re not foolproof solutions.”
“The Bears could bring one of those veterans in on a one-year deal, but that would be to compete with Stevenson, not replace him,” he continued. “The likes of Tre’Davious White or Jeff Okudah could be more appealing. Chicago could also try to buy low on a disappointing young player such as Kyu Blu Kelly or Kaiir Elam, hoping that [Bears DC Dennis] Allen might coax more out of them than their previous staffs.”
“While the Bears might hope to address wide receiver and edge rusher early on in the 2026 draft, the secondary should also be a priority. The good news for Poles is that the Bears have an extra second-round pick after trading [WR D.J.] Moore to the Bills.”
Bears Urged to Add Veteran Corner to Fix Biggest ‘Issue’ After Early Free Agency