When the NFL’s negotiating window opened Monday morning, the money started flying.
Massive contracts. Massive guarantees. Massive reminders of just how expensive it is to buy pass rushers on the open market.
By the end of the first day, nine deals around the league carried annual values north of $20 million, and several of them went to defensive linemen. Edge rushers cashed in early. Jaelan Phillips landed a four-year, $120 million deal with the Panthers. Odafe Oweh secured $100 million from the Commanders. Boye Mafe and Kwity Paye weren’t far behind.
Against that backdrop, the Bears’ approach to Day 1 felt intentional.
Rather than diving headfirst into an overheated pass-rush market, General Manager Ryan Poles spent the first wave of free agency reshaping the middle and back end of Defensive Coordinator Dennis Allen’s unit. None of the moves were designed to dominate headlines, but they aligned closely with what the Bears have been saying since the season ended: the defense needed to get faster and more versatile.
Bears Reshape the Middle of Their Defense on Day 1 of Free Agency
Chicago’s biggest move came in the secondary.
The Bears agreed to terms with former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant on a three-year, $40 million deal that includes $25.75 million guaranteed. Bryant, who intercepted four passes last season for Seattle’s Super Bowl-winning defense, steps into a key role in Allen’s system and effectively replaces veteran Kevin Byard III, at least for now.
Bryant’s background makes him an intriguing fit. Originally a slot cornerback, he transitioned into a hybrid safety role in Seattle, giving him the kind of positional flexibility Allen prefers in his defensive backs. Allen’s defenses have long thrived on disguising coverage and rotating responsibilities between safeties and corners, particularly on passing downs.
Bryant’s ability to play in multiple alignments should allow the Bears to lean into that philosophy more often.
At the same time, Byard hasn’t necessarily been ruled out. The Bears spoke openly earlier this offseason about wanting to bring back their veteran captain, and depending on how the market unfolds, the door remains open for a reunion. Bryant and Byard could theoretically complement one another in Allen’s system, particularly given Allen’s willingness to shuffle defensive backs around the formation.
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesThe Bears also addressed another key spot in the middle of their defense.
Former Steelers first-round pick Devin Bush agreed to a three-year, $30 million deal after a strong season with the Browns. The move came just days after the Bears released Tremaine Edmunds, a decision that created both cap space and a vacancy in the starting lineup.
Bush brings a very different profile to the position. Where Edmunds relied on size and length, Bush’s game is built around speed and explosiveness. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine coming out of Michigan and remains one of the more athletic linebackers in the league.
That kind of range is exactly what Poles referenced at the NFL Scouting Combine when discussing the defense’s shortcomings late last season.
Bush started every game for Cleveland last year and finished with 125 tackles, three interceptions, two forced fumbles, and two sacks — even returning two interceptions for touchdowns. At 27, he is also entering the prime of his career.
© Katie Stratman-Imagn ImagesUp front, the Bears made a quieter move that still addressed a clear need.
Chicago entered free agency with only Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr. under contract at defensive tackle, making depth along the interior defensive line an immediate priority. The Bears moved quickly to add veteran Neville Gallimore on a two-year deal.
Gallimore won’t be asked to anchor the pass rush, but he provides valuable rotation help and interior disruption. The seven-year veteran recorded a career-high 3.5 sacks last season and should play a role similar to the one Andrew Billings filled in recent years.
With Bush, Bryant, and Gallimore added to the roster, the Bears suddenly look much more stable in the middle of the defense.
© Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesBut the Pass Rush Question Still Looms
But the biggest question on the defensive side of the ball remains unanswered.
The Bears still need a pass rusher to pair with Montez Sweat, and Monday’s market likely reinforced the team’s patience. With players like Phillips, Oweh, Mafe, and Paye commanding massive deals despite varying levels of production, Chicago may ultimately prefer to address the position through the draft.
Aside from Trey Hendrickson, whose contract projections feel too rich for the Bears’ blood this spring, the pass rusher market is down to veterans like Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, and Bradley Chubb.
The timing works in their favor.
The Bears hold four picks in the top 89 selections in April’s draft, including the extra second-rounder acquired from Buffalo in the DJ Moore trade. This year’s class is widely viewed as deep along the defensive line, both inside and on the edge, potentially giving Chicago the chance to add impact talent on cost-controlled rookie contracts.
Even after Monday’s moves, there are still several pieces of unfinished business.
The Bears still need clarity at center, where Garrett Bradbury currently sits atop the depth chart following Drew Dalman’s retirement. They also need competition at left tackle while Ozzy Trapilo recovers from a serious knee injury sustained in the playoffs. For now, that competition could come from Theo Benedet and Braxton Jones, who returned on a one-year deal Monday.
On defense, the team could still explore adding another safety depending on how the Kevin Byard situation unfolds. Cornerback remains a position that could see additional attention as well.
Cap space will play a role in those decisions. The Bears currently sit around $13.6 million in available space (via OTC), a number that will tighten once draft picks and in-season operating room are accounted for.
For now, though, Day 1 offered a glimpse into the Bears’ defensive blueprint. Poles and Allen clearly want a unit that is faster, more versatile, and deeper in the middle.
Now the next step is finishing the front. Because until the Bears find a true running mate for Montez Sweat off the edge, the most important piece of Allen’s defense is still missing, and that could shape how Chicago approaches the rest of free agency and the draft in the weeks ahead.
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