The Chicago Bears added seven new players to the roster during the 2026 NFL Draft and then added a slew of undrafted free agents to help create more competition on the roster.
The Chicago Bears added seven new rookie draft picks to the roster over the weekend during the 2026 NFL Draft and then added even more players based on the number of undrafted free agents reportedly signing with the team.
All of the new additions and similar qualities in common as head coach Ben Johnson looks to push the roster going into his second season with the team.
"We're looking for high-level competitors; guys that if you took football away from them, they really don't know what to do with themselves," Johnson explained. "It's a huge part; they eat it, they sleep it, they breathe it, and I think we're able to identify those type of guys. When you have guys like that, they usually find a way to come out on top."
With that mindset being present in all of the new additions, multiple players currently on the roster just got put on notice and could be in danger of losing their roster spot.
The Bears took a major reach when they selected linebacker Ruben Hyppolite II in the fourth-round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was impressed by Hyppolite's speed and it's clearly a trait he identified early that his defense would need.
However, Hyppolite went on to play seven games and only log 31 defensive snaps. He was a healthy inactive for six games during the regular season and couldn't earn a defensive role despite all of the injuries the team suffered at the linebacker position.
Instead of hoping Hyppolite will develop entering Year 2, the Bears went out to completely revamp the linebacker position. In free agency, the Bears re-signed D'Marco Jackson while adding Devin Bush and reuniting with Jack Sanborn . That alone put Hyppolite on the hot seat and it got even hotter when the Bears selected Keyshaun Elliott on Day 3 of the draft .
Terell Smith was a solid find by the Bears in the fifth-round of the 2023 NFL Draft. During his first two seasons, Smitty played six games and totaled 584 defensive snaps rotating on the outside with Tyrique Stevenson . Late last summer, he suffered a torn Achilles that put him on the shelf for the entirety of the 2026 season.
Dennis Allen had high hopes for what Smitty could bring to the room. He can still look to return this offseason and prove himself, but the competition has only increased.
Chicago's fifth-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Zah Frazier , is set to rejoin the team after missing his rookie season and the Bears also traded up to draft Malik Muhammad in the fourth-round of the draft this past weekend. It's going to be great competition in that room and Smitty might be the odd man out.
Jordan McFadden was a playoff hero for the Bears after getting the nod to start at left guard in the NFC Divisional Round Game after Joe Thuney kicked over to left tackle. McFadden earned his keep in that game and proved why the Bears had him stashed on the 53-man roster.
While the Bears only added a future starting center in Logan Jones to the offensive line during the draft, Chicago paid top dollar to bring in offensive lineman Caden Barnett as a high priority UDFA.
Barnett has experience at right guard and right tackle. The Bears also have Theo Benedet and 2025 sixth-round pick Luke Newman as backup guard options. Chicago now has plenty of interior depth, and another team will likely poach whoever they cut before he can return to the practice squad.
