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The Chicago Bears have wrapped their 2025 season after a devastating overtime loss to the Los Angeles Rams in the divisional playoffs, but the future is bright in Chicago.
The Bears have some important roster moves to make this offseason, including with some in-house free agents -- whether that's re-signing some or filling holes left by departing players. Chicago has 27 players scheduled to become free agents in 2026 according to Over The Cap, including some key starters and contributors.
There are some players who could very well sign a contract extension, including safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, as well as cornerback Nahshon Wright and linebacker D'Marco Jackson, who all had big seasons with the Bears. But there are some big decisions to be made by general manager Ryan Poles about those players and the rest of the group of pending free agents.
Here's a look at the Bears players set to hit the open market in free agency:
The 2026 free agency negotiation window begins March 9, where teams can negotiate with available players. The free agency period officially opens two days later on March 11.
The Bears are projected to be $4.3 million over the salary cap for the 2026 season, which is the 12th worst in the league but the best among all four NFC North teams. But Chicago will make some moves in regards to contract restructures and perhaps parting ways with some expensive veterans to free up cap space to make some moves this offseason.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears free agency: 27 players set to hit the open market in 2026
Continue reading...
The Bears have some important roster moves to make this offseason, including with some in-house free agents -- whether that's re-signing some or filling holes left by departing players. Chicago has 27 players scheduled to become free agents in 2026 according to Over The Cap, including some key starters and contributors.
There are some players who could very well sign a contract extension, including safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, as well as cornerback Nahshon Wright and linebacker D'Marco Jackson, who all had big seasons with the Bears. But there are some big decisions to be made by general manager Ryan Poles about those players and the rest of the group of pending free agents.
Here's a look at the Bears players set to hit the open market in free agency:
Bears 2026 free agents
- S Kevin Byard (UFA)
- DE Joe Tryon-Shoyinka (Void)
- OL Ryan Bates (Void)
- DT Andrew Billings (UFA)
- DT Chris Williams (UFA)
- TE Durham Smythe (UFA)
- QB Case Keenum (UFA)
- S Jonathan Owens (UFA)
- S Jaquan Brisker (UFA)
- RB Travis Homer (UFA)
- WR Olamide Zaccheaus (UFA)
- CB Nick McCloud (UFA)
- LB Jalen Reeves-Maybin (UFA)
- CB Jaylon Jones (UFA)
- LS Scott Daly (UFA)
- WR Devin Duvernay (UFA)
- S C.J. Gardner-Johnson (UFA)
- CB Nahshon Wright (UFA)
- DE Daniel Hardy (RFA)
- LB D'Marco Jackson (UFA)
- OT Braxton Jones (UFA)
- DE Dominique Robinson (UFA)
- S Elijah Hicks (UFA)
- OT Theo Benedet (ERFA)
- LB Ty Summers (SFA)
- C Ricky Stromberg (SFA)
- WR Qadir Ismail (SFA)
When is 2026 free agency?
The 2026 free agency negotiation window begins March 9, where teams can negotiate with available players. The free agency period officially opens two days later on March 11.
How much salary cap space do the Bears have?
The Bears are projected to be $4.3 million over the salary cap for the 2026 season, which is the 12th worst in the league but the best among all four NFC North teams. But Chicago will make some moves in regards to contract restructures and perhaps parting ways with some expensive veterans to free up cap space to make some moves this offseason.
Follow Bears Wire on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears free agency: 27 players set to hit the open market in 2026
Continue reading...
