The brand new NFL 12 months formally started at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and the negotiating window for unrestricted free brokers opened at 11 a.m. Monday. For the Chicago Bears, it’s a vital interval for basic supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson to improve the roster.
The Bears struck twice earlier than free company with a pair of trades for offensive linemen Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson from the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams, respectively, addressing considered one of their largest positions of want.
The Bears have 27 gamers with expiring contracts, most notably large receiver Keenan Allen, offensive linemen Teven Jenkins, Matt Pryor and Coleman Shelton, lengthy snapper Patrick Scales and working again/particular groups ace Travis Homer. Their restricted free brokers embrace defensive sort out Chris Williams and offensive lineman Doug Kramer.
The Tribune is monitoring and analyzing the newest developments in free company.
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- Column: Veterans Joe Thuney and Grady Jarrett bring value to Bears that doesn’t end on the field
- New Bears guard Jonah Jackson ‘is made of the right stuff’
- Bears’ 5 biggest positions of need — and 101 players to watch in free agency and the draft
- Short-term fix for a long-term problem? Brad Biggs’ thoughts on Joe Thuney and Bears’ O-line overhaul.
Friday
Linebacker Jack Sanborn signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
What it means: The linebacker and Lake Zurich native spent his first three NFL seasons with the Bears. He initially signed with the crew as an undrafted rookie out of Wisconsin in 2022.
Sanborn, 24, will comply with former Bears coach Matt Eberflus and former Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi to Dallas, the place each are on the teaching workers below first-year head coach Brian Schottenheimer.
Sanborn appeared in 48 video games, together with 19 begins, over his three seasons in Chicago. He was a big particular groups contributor, taking part in 84.4% of the crew’s particular groups snaps in 2024. Sanborn totaled 164 mixed tackles, 4½ sacks and one interception over three seasons.
The Bears elected to not tender Sanborn a contract as a restricted free agent, which allowed him to change into an unrestricted free agent this week.
Thursday
The Bears reached settlement on a one-year contract with large receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, a league supply confirmed.
What this implies: The Bears entered the day with six large receivers below contract: DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Tyler Scott and reserve/futures signees John Jackson, Samori Toure and Maurice Alexander. They added one other piece to the puzzle with Zaccheaus, a 27-year-old veteran who amassed a career-high 45 catches final season for 506 yards and three touchdowns for the Washington Commanders.
The Bears will likely be Zaccheaus’ fourth crew in as many seasons after stints with the Commanders (2024), Philadelphia Eagles (2023) and Atlanta Falcons (2019-22). The 5-foot-8, 193-pound Zaccheaus is on the small facet and should carve out a job in Ben Johnson’s offense, maybe as a weapon from the slot.
His best recreation final season was an eight-catch, 85-yard outing in a key Week 17 win over the Falcons. He contributed a 7-yard TD catch from Jayden Daniels in that recreation, his thirteenth profession receiving landing.
Zaccheaus additionally has a fame as a fearless and bodily blocker, one thing that little doubt appeals to Johnson.
The Bears launched Drew Dalman and Dayo Odeyingbo.
What it means: The Bears formally introduced two extra free-agent additions, introducing center Dalman and move rusher Odeyingbo at a information convention at crew headquarters in Lake Forest.
Dalman involves Chicago after 4 years because the beginning heart for the Atlanta Falcons. He signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears this week. Dalman must be a centerpiece for the revamped offensive line, taking part in beside just lately acquired guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson.
Odeyingbo signed a three-year, $48 million contract. The Bears have been looking for an efficient move rusher to play reverse Professional Bowl defensive finish Montez Sweat. Odeyingbo had 16½ sacks over 4 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, though he wasn’t a full-time starter till final season.
Wednesday
The Bears made a number of official transaction bulletins as the brand new league 12 months started.
What this implies: The NFL’s new league 12 months opened Wednesday and opened the door for the Bears to finalize a number of transactions that had been within the works during the last two weeks and extensively reported.
The trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson grew to become official. The Bears despatched a 2026 fourth-round choose to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs for Thuney and a sixth-round choice in subsequent month’s draft to the Los Angeles Rams for Jackson.
The crew additionally introduced the signings of defensive tackle Grady Jarrett to a three-year deal and tight finish Durham Smythe to a one-year contract.
Tuesday
The Bears are bringing again lengthy snapper Scott Daly on a one-year contract, in response to a league supply.
What this implies: Daly joined the Bears in August after incumbent lengthy snapper Patrick Scales suffered a again harm in the course of the preseason that required surgical procedure. Daly, a Downers Grove South and Notre Dame alumnus, performed properly sufficient to maintain the job.
In bringing again Daly, the Bears are pivoting from Scales, who had been with the group since 2015 and performed in 120 video games.
Daly performed in all 17 video games final season — although he did go away the victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London with a first-quarter knee harm that thrust tight finish Cole Kmet into emergency long-snapping duties. Kmet was honored for his relief performance because the NFC Particular Groups Participant of the Week.
Daly’s return is the newest to solidify the Bears particular groups. The crew beforehand labored out new offers for Josh Blackwell, Amen Ogbongbemiga and Tarvarius Moore.
Monday
The Bears have reached a three-year contract settlement with veteran defensive sort out Grady Jarrett.
What this implies: Jarrett was a salary-cap casualty with the Atlanta Falcons, who launched him Monday morning, however he rapidly discovered a touchdown spot. The Bears aggressively pounced, guaranteeing the 31-year-old $28.5 million in a three-year, $43.5 million deal.
Jarrett has spent the final decade solidifying a fame as a high-motor defensive disruptor with a particular mixture of quickness and energy. He was named to the Professional Bowl in 2019 and 2020 and was a second-team All-Professional honoree in 2020. After the 2022 season, he was named to the NFL’s High 100 Gamers checklist, as voted on by gamers across the league.
Jarrett missed 9 video games in 2023 with a torn ACL however returned to begin all 17 video games final season and has proved sturdy all through his profession, taking part in in a minimum of 14 video games in 9 of his 10 seasons. He tasks to be a starter up entrance on a remade line that additionally added move rusher Dayo Odeyingbo on Monday. The Bears have proven full-throttle aggressiveness in investing in each strains over the previous week.
The Bears additionally signed security Tarvarius Moore, 28, to a one-year extension. Moore performed in 11 video games for the Bears final season, totally on particular groups, and had seven particular groups tackles.
The Bears are signing defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million deal, in response to a league supply.
What this implies: After spending important sources over the previous week to improve the offensive line, the Bears turned their consideration to the defensive entrance with a top-shelf signing from the sting rusher aisle. Odeyingbo, drafted within the second spherical out of Vanderbilt in 2021, is 25 and steadily ascended over his first 4 seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
He ought to deliver each juice and flexibility to Dennis Allen’s protection as a high-energy move rusher and dependable run defender. Odeyingbo has solely 16½ profession sacks and recorded simply three final season, his first as a full-time starter. However he totaled 17 quarterback hits in 2024 and has the potential to emerge as a complementary menace reverse Montez Sweat.
Odeyingbo’s measurement (6-foot-6, 286 kilos) makes him a presence up entrance. With the power to kick inside as a rusher, he can change into a chess piece for Allen in must-pass conditions for the opponent. The Bears are investing in Odeyingbo with a perception he can carve out a heightened function within the protection rapidly. It’s sensible to undertaking he can contribute a minimum of six to eight sacks subsequent season whereas turning into an everyday disruptor. Changing into extra constant in his first season in Chicago will likely be a giant deal. Read more here.
Former Bears quarterback Justin Fields will get a contemporary begin with the New York Jets.
What this implies: Fields will obtain $30 million in assured cash within the two-year, $40 million contract he agreed on to change into the Jets’ new starter — and the successor to Aaron Rodgers. Fields’ arrival in New York comes after an up-and-down season in Pittsburgh that noticed him begin the Steelers’ first six video games with a 4-2 report earlier than being pushed right into a backup function behind Russell Wilson.
Fields set profession highs in completion share (.658) and passer score (93.3) in Pittsburgh and rushed for 289 yards and 5 touchdowns throughout these six begins. He additionally handed for 5 scores and threw just one interception however averaged solely 184.3 passing yards per begin and was sacked 16 occasions. He’ll get a brand new alternative below first-year Jets coach Aaron Glenn and offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand.
After three flash-filled however inconsistent seasons with the Bears, Fields was traded to the Steelers final spring. The Bears acquired again a 2025 sixth-round draft choose, which they traded final week to the Los Angeles Rams for veteran guard Jonah Jackson.
The Bears are signing center Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal, a league supply confirmed.
What this implies: The Bears didn’t wait lengthy to make a giant splash within the free-agency waters, zeroing in on the highest accessible heart and reaching a deal within the first half-hour of the NFL’s negotiating window.
Dalman, 26, simply reached the tip of his rookie contract with the Atlanta Falcons and is heralded as a sensible, regular lineman who might be an asset as a run blocker. He began 40 video games during the last three seasons. He missed eight in the midst of final season with an ankle harm that despatched him to injured reserve, however he returned in December and completed the season sturdy.
Dalman’s contract contains $28 million in assured cash and continues the aggressive efforts of basic supervisor Ryan Poles and coach Ben Johnson to rebuild the offensive line in entrance of second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Within the final week, the Bears have added three starters to the inside with the Dalman deal approaching the heels of trades for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson. Read more here.
The Los Angeles Chargers reached an settlement on a one-year contract extension with Khalil Mack.
What this implies: Goals of a Mack reunion with the Bears slipped out the window Monday morning when the 34-year-old move rusher agreed to a totally assured, one-year, $18 million extension to stick with the Chargers, in response to a number of nationwide stories.
Mack, who has 107½ profession sacks and performed 4 seasons in Chicago from 2018-2021, has spent the final three years in Los Angeles and continues to be a revered pass-rushing menace. In 2023 he totaled a career-high 17 sacks in Brandon Staley’s protection. Final season, after Jim Harbaugh changed Staley as Chargers head coach, Mack’s sack complete dipped to 6 below defensive coordinator Jesse Minter.
The Bears are in search of so as to add enamel to their move rush through free company and the draft. Potential free brokers to maintain on the radar this week embrace Josh Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo, Malcolm Koonce, Azeez Ojulari and Joseph Ossai.
March 6
The Bears reached agreements on two-year contracts with particular groups standouts Josh Blackwell and Amen Ogbongbemiga, in response to league sources.
What this implies: Particular groups coordinator Richard Hightower, a holdover from Matt Eberflus’ teaching workers, will retain two of his most trusted and valued contributors. The Bears introduced each extensions later Thursday.
Ogbongbemiga joined the Bears on a one-year free-agent deal final spring and logged 366 snaps on particular groups, second on the crew behind fellow linebacker Jack Sanborn.
Blackwell, whom the Bears claimed off waivers on the finish of the 2022 preseason when he was an undrafted rookie, has been a high-level particular groups contributor for the final three seasons. He made one begin at cornerback final season and was a dependable reserve within the secondary when referred to as upon. He had his first profession interception off Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence in the course of the Bears’ Week 6 blowout victory in London.
The Bears are signing veteran tight finish Durham Smythe to a one-year deal, a league supply instructed the Tribune.
What this implies: Launched by the Miami Dolphins final month, Smythe has discovered a brand new residence at Halas Corridor in a mini-reunion with Ben Johnson. The 2 overlapped in Miami for one season in 2018 when Johnson was the Dolphins large receivers coach and Smythe was a rookie. In order with guard Jonah Jackson, who spent his first 4 seasons in Detroit with Johnson on the teaching workers, the Bears have checked the familiarity field once more.
They wanted so as to add expertise and depth at tight finish behind Cole Kmet, and Smythe is extra of a standard in-line tight finish whose biggest worth is as a blocker within the working recreation. (He additionally overlapped with Kmet at Notre Dame for one season in 2017.)
Smythe loved a profession season in 2023 in receiving productiveness, recording 35 catches for 366 yards. Over seven seasons, he has 132 receptions for 1,228 yards with three touchdowns.
