The Bears didn’t make any huge splashes in free agency this month, but that’s largely because they have a better roster than they’ve had for quite a few years. The month started with the shocking retirement of C Drew Dalman. To replace him, the Bears acquired C Garrett Bradbury in a trade with the Patriots a few days later. He isn’t the highest rated center in the league, but he did help the Pats get to the Super Bowl last season. He will presumably start, but I could see the Bears using a draft pick on a center as well.

Elsewhere on the O-line, the Bears re-signed LT Braxton Jones to a one-year deal. After Jones was benched early last season, T Theo Benedet and T Ozzy Trapilo held the job for much of the season, but Trapilo suffered a knee injury in the playoff win over the Cheeseheads that will keep him out for much of 2026. Jones will compete with Benedet and free agent signing T Jedrick Wills Jr. for the left tackle spot, and there’s the possibility of a draft pick as well.

Around the same time, the Bears traded WR D.J. Moore to Buffalo for a second-round pick. Moore leaves something of a complicated legacy here in Chicago. He had a spectacular first season with the Bears with Justin Fields at quarterback, but he never seemed to be fully in sync with QB Caleb Williams, and that unfortunately was on display on his final play as a Bear. There was also criticism of his body language and his perceived lack of effort on routes at times. But Moore was a good dude, and he’ll always have two of the most important catches in Bears history with his two game-winners against the Cheeseheads.

As for how that affects the receiver depth chart, WR Rome Odunze stays at the top, but now WR Luther Burden III will take on a much more prominent role as the #2. HC Ben Johnson said at the NFL owners meetings on Monday that Burden has some of the best run-after-catch ability in the league, and he wants to get the ball into Luther’s hands as often as possible. The Bears also signed free agent WR Kalif Raymond to a one-year deal. Johnson of course knew Raymond from his time with the Lions, and he brings speed, punt returning ability, and great intangibles. With Olamide Zaccheaus gone to Atlanta, Raymond will likely compete with WR Jahdae Walker for targets, but TE Colston Loveland is likely to be more of a #3 option (or 2B with Burden) than either of them.

Most of the key free agent acquisitions came on defense, led by the signing of former Seattle S Coby Bryant to a three-year deal. Coming off winning the Super Bowl with the Seahawks, Bryant brings speed and big hitting ability along with a great name. Johnson expects him to be a tone-setter for the defense with Kevin Byard gone to New England. After releasing LB Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears signed LB Devin Bush to a three-year deal. He brings good speed, and he had two pick-sixes last season. The team also signed DT Neville Gallimore to a two-year deal and brought back old friend LB Jack Sanborn on a one-year deal.

End.