The Chicago Bears are in the middle of another important offseason, where they’re looking to shore up the roster and remain contenders in Ben Johnson’s second season as head coach as the 2026 NFL Draft approaches.
The Bears didn’t make any big splashes in free agency, where their biggest move was signing Super Bowl champion Coby Bryant to fill one of two starting safety vacancies left by the departing Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Chicago also added linebacker Devin Bush, defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and wide receiver Kalif Raymond. But the Bears also suffered some big losses, including wide receiver DJ Moore, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, Byard and Brisker, as well as center Drew Dalman, who shockingly retired.
Chicago has seven draft picks that includes four selections in the top 89, including a pair of second rounders, where they can address some of their biggest needs, including defensive line, safety and offensive tackle.
Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2026 NFL Draft. Next up is edge rusher, which remains a key area of need for a Bears defense that was among the worst in sacking the quarterback last season.
Who’s on the roster?
The Bears are returning three significant contributors at defensive end led by former Pro Bowler Montez Sweat, who had a bounce-back year with 53 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 18 QB hits, 53 pressures, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. While Sweat wasn’t a superstar at the position, he was consistent and was easily the best part of Chicago’s struggling pass rush. He could certainly benefit from another big name opposite him. The Bears were banking on Dayo Odeyingbo to thrive opposite Sweat, but he proved to be a non-factor in Dennis Allen’s defense. Odeyingbo, who signed a three-year deal worth $32 million guaranteed last offseason, totaled just one sack in eight games before suffering a torn Achilles in Week 9.
Meanwhile, Austin Booker missed the first seven games of the season after suffering a knee injury during the preseason, which was disappointing given his dominant showings. But when he returned to the lineup, he picked up where he left off and became an impactful player opposite Sweat. Booker totaled 35 tackles, including five for loss, 4.5 sacks, 12 QB hits, 29 pressures, one forced fumble and three pass breakups in 10 games. The Bears also brought back Daniel Hardy, who was slated to hit free agency, where he’ll serve as key depth as well as a core special teams contributor.
Who departed this offseason?
The Bears didn’t lose any significant contributors to free agency, with both Dominique Robinson and Joe Tryon-Shoyinka departing. Robinson, a former fifth-round pick, spent four years with the Bears, where he served as a depth and rotational player off the edge. He also played a key role on special teams. In four seasons, Robinson totaled 68 tackles, including six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, seven QB hits and three pass breakups in 46 games with eight starts.
Chicago acquired Tryon-Shoyinka from the Cleveland Browns in a swap of late-round picks with the Bears sending a 2026 sixth-round pick in exchange for Tryon-Shoyinka and a 2026 seventh-round pick. Tryon-Shoyinka served as a short-term solution after Dayo Odeyingbo went down with a season-ending torn Achilles.
Positional need: High
The Bears’ biggest needs this offseason rest along the defensive line, both defensive end and defensive tackle. The pass rush as a whole is a massive concern for Chicago after totaling just 35 sacks on the year, which was the seventh-fewest in the NFL. While the Bears’ top three defensive ends — Montez Sweat, Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker — are all back in 2026, the pass rush was virtually nonexistent last season. Chicago needs to add new players to the mix and find a way to pressure the quarterback if they hope to contend next season. After failing to make a move in free agency, general manager Ryan Poles needs to prioritize overhauling the defensive trenches, much like he did with the offensive line last offseason, in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Top draft prospects
This is a deep edge rusher class that extends beyond the first two rounds. But the Bears need to find an impact defensive lineman in this draft, and that could very well be an edge rusher. Guys like Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Texas Tech’s David Bailey will likely be long gone before No. 25, but there are others like Akheem Mesidor, Cashius Howell, Keldric Faulk, Clemson’s T.J. Parker, Missouri’s Zion Young and Penn State’s Dani Dennis-Sutton who would be options.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 2026 NFL draft preview: Where Chicago Bears stand at edge rusher
Reporting by Alyssa Barbieri, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
