Tracking the Chicago Bears in NFL free agency: DT Andrew Billings signs with Arizona Cardinals

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Tracking the Chicago Bears in NFL free agency: DT Andrew Billings signs with Arizona Cardinals

Sean Hammond, Brad Biggs, Phil Thompson, Chicago Tribune

Tue, Mar 17, 2026 ·

7 min read

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The busiest week on the NFL's offseason calendar has passed.

The free-agent negotiating period opened at 11 a.m. March 9, and with the start of the 2026 league year at 3 p.m. March 11, any contracts negotiated or trades agreed to could become official.

Here's a rundown of where things stand for the Chicago Bears after a busy few days.

The team has officially announced the following trades:

The Bears sent wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick (No. 60).
The Bears acquired center Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round pick.

The following free-agent agreements have been made official:

Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore signed a two-year, $12 million contract.
Safety Coby Bryant signed a three-year, $40 million contract.
Linebacker Devin Bush signed a three-year, $30 million contract.
Wide receiver/returner Kalif Raymond signed a one-year, $5.1 million contract.
Offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract.
Defensive tackle Kentavius Street signed a one-year contract.
Defensive back Cam Lewis signed a two-year, $6 million contract.

The following impending Bears free agents have agreed to return next season:

Defensive end Daniel Hardy signed a two-year, $5 million extension.
Linebacker D'Marco Jackson signed a two-year, $7.5 million extension.
Quarterback Case Keenum signed a two-year, $5.5 million extension.
Safety Elijah Hicks signed a one-year, $2.6 million contract.
Offensive lineman Jordan McFadden signed a one-year, $1.3 million contract.
Offensive tackle Braxton Jones signed a one-year, $5 million contract with up to $5 million in incentives.
Cornerback Jaylon Jones signed a one-year contract.

Here's the latest Bears news in free agency.

Want the latest Bears news? Subscribe to the Chicago Tribune to read it all — and sign up for our Bears Insider newsletter .

Tuesday: Cardinals sign former Bears DT Andrew Billings

Former Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings has signed a free-agent contract with the Arizona Cardinals , according to the NFL's daily personnel notice. The run-stuffing nose tackle played three seasons in Chicago.

Billings, 31, appeared in 42 games, making 39 starts, and totaled two sacks, one forced fumble, 11 tackles for a loss and 71 tackles as a Bear. He was something of an unsung hero in former coach Matt Eberflus' defensive scheme in 2023 and '24. He originally signed with the Bears on a one-year contract before the 2023 season and earned a two-year extension that November.

The following season, the Bears defense was off to a solid start before the Hail Mary nightmare against the Washington Commanders in Week 8. The next week, Billings suffered a pectoral injury midway through a loss to the Cardinals, which forced him to miss the remainder of the season. The 2024 defense was never quite the same without him, and the Bears went on to lose 10 consecutive games.

It appeared Billings may have been better suited for Eberflus' scheme than what Ben Johnson's defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen, wants to run. The Bears have prioritized speed on defense in free agency . At 6-foot-1 and 340 pounds, Billings was more of a space eater and run stuffer.

The Bears last week signed 6-2, 307-pound defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, who could provide a bit more agility at the position.

Saturday: Bears to re-sign CB Jaylon Jones on 1-year deal

While five members of the secondary from last season have signed with other teams, the Bears are returning some familiar faces. Safety Elijah Hicks already signed a one-year contract, and cornerback Jaylon Jones also will be re-signing on a one-year deal, a league source said.

Jones and Hicks tied for third on the team in special teams tackles in 2025, and Jones played a minor role on defense, getting 39 snaps.

Jones, 28, originally joined the Bears as an undrafted free agent in 2022 and spent three seasons with the club before signing with the Arizona Cardinals in free agency last March. When the Cardinals waived him, the Bears claimed him to get him back in the mix as a core special teams player.

The Bears have now re-signed four of their top seven players on special teams in terms of snaps: defensive end Daniel Hardy (first), Hicks (second), linebacker D'Marco Jackson (fourth) and Jones (seventh). Cornerback Josh Blackwell (third) remains with the team. The only two to depart are safety Jonathan Owens (fifth) and tight end Durham Smythe (sixth).

With Smythe following offensive coordinator Declan Doyle to the Baltimore Ravens , the team needs to fill that spot. It's possible the Bears will seek a veteran with experience and add competition with maybe a Day 3 draft pick.

March 13: Former Bears safety Jonathan Owens will sign with Colts

Safety Jonathan Owens is leaving the Bears for the Indianapolis Colts, his agent, Sunny Shah, confirmed to the Tribune.

Owens, who is married to Olympic-champion gymnast Simone Biles, leaves the Bears after two seasons.

He appeared in 34 games with the Bears, mostly playing on special teams. He also was a backup safety, filling in for five starts in 2024. Owens totaled 68 combined tackles, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and one interception over two seasons in Chicago.

His most memorable moment might have been a touchdown he scored on a blocked punt during his first game with the Bears in the 2024 season opener.

The Bears continue to overhaul the safety position. Along with Owens, safeties Kevin Byard III and Jaquan Brisker have signed elsewhere. The Bears added veteran Coby Bryant on a three-year, $40 million contract while also re-signing backup safety Elijah Hicks and adding versatile defensive back Cam Lewis.

March 12: DBs Jaquan Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson sign elsewhere

Former Bears safety Jaquan Brisker will sign with the Pittsburgh Steelers on a one-year contract, according to an NFL Network report. Brisker leaves the Bears after four seasons.

Additionally, defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson is signing a one-year contract with the Buffalo Bills, according to a report from ESPN.

Brisker, 26, was one of the first draft picks of the Poles era in 2022. The Bears selected Brisker with a second-round pick (No. 48) that year. Brisker was a steady contributor when healthy. He missed 12 games in 2024 due to an early-season concussion, and he dealt with multiple concussions in each of his first three seasons.

Brisker did return to full health in 2025 and appeared in all 17 games and both playoff games. In four seasons with the Bears, he totaled four interceptions, seven sacks and 342 combined tackles.

The Bears are in the midst of an overhaul at the safety position. Brisker and veteran safety Kevin Byard III, their starters from last season, now are heading elsewhere. Byard is expected to sign with the New England Patriots.

The Bears officially re-signed backup safety Elijah Hicks and signed free-agent safety Coby Bryant on Thursday. They're also expected to sign versatile defensive back Cam Lewis. Ryan Poles noted that one goal of this offseason was to add more speed to the defense.

Gardner-Johnson, 28, joined the Bears midway through the 2025 season as the team was dealing with injuries to cornerbacks Kyler Gordon and Jaylon Johnson .

Gardner-Johnson filled in as the nickel cornerback, starting seven games and appearing in 10. He totaled 51 combined tackles, three sacks, two interceptions, one forced fumble and four passes defended.

March 12: Bears re-sign OL Jordan McFadden, announce 4 others

It's not a surprise that the Bears re-signed Jordan McFadden.

He's the player they turned to in the divisional round of the playoffs when a left guard was needed, as Joe Thuney was shifted outside to left tackle. It was the only start of the season for McFadden, who appeared in seven regular-season games but was used almost exclusively on special teams.

Making McFadden the next man up during a playoff game sent a pretty clear message about how the team felt about his development. While the Bears didn't tender McFadden as a restricted free agent, a move that would have cost roughly $3.5 million, they worked out a one-year deal to retain him.

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McFadden, 26, even served as a swing tackle during the regular season (he wasn't needed to fulfill the role in a game), so he's a depth piece that coach Ben Johnson and offensive line coach Dan Roushar came to appreciate. He was originally a fifth-round pick by the Los Angeles Chargers out of Clemson in 2023.

McFadden's return was announced by the team along with four other re-signings: safety Elijah Hicks, defensive end Daniel Hardy, linebacker D'Marco Jackson and quarterback Case Keenum.

March 11: Bears to sign OT Jedrick Wills Jr. to 1-year deal

The Bears are signing former Cleveland Browns offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. to a one-year contract, according to an ESPN report.

Wills, the No. 10 draft pick in 2020, didn't play in the NFL last season. Over his first five seasons, he appeared in 58 games for the Browns, starting at left tackle for much of that time.

A 2023 MCL injury derailed his career. After missing the second half of that season, Wills appeared in just five games the next season before sitting out last year.

The 26-year-old was an All-American at Alabama and earned All-Rookie honors in 2020 from the Pro Football Writers of America. If he's fully healthy now, he'll certainly be a curiosity heading into 2026.

With Ozzy Trapilo set to be sidelined for much of 2026 by a patellar tendon injury, the Bears will need a starting left tackle. They now are expected to sign Wills and Braxton Jones, and they also have Theo Benedet returning.

March 11: Bears are re-signing Elijah Hicks as Kevin Byard III heads to Patriots

The Bears started the week with a blank depth chart at safety.

An agreement with Coby Bryant is in place as their top prize in free agency — and a replacement for All-Pro Kevin Byard III, who reached a one-year, $9 million deal with the New England Patriots on Wednesday, according to NFL Network.

The Bears added to the depth chart by securing a deal to re-sign Elijah Hicks, according to a league source.

Hicks, a seventh-round pick in 2022, has played in 61 games over the previous four seasons and has 15 starts with 13 of them coming in 2023 and 2024. He played only 62 snaps on defense last season as Byard and Jaquan Brisker, also a free agent, started 17 games each.

The re-signing of Hicks is another indication the Bears are committed to remaining strong on special teams. Hicks has been a core performer on all four phases just like defensive end Daniel Hardy, who also is expected back on a two-year contract. Defensive back Cam Lewis, a former Buffalo Bill, also is expected to be signed, and he's another core special teamer.

With wide receiver/returner Kalif Raymond expected to sign a one-year contract, the Bears have made some key moves that should pay dividends in the third phase.

March 11: DT Chris Williams reportedly will sign with Falcons

Bears defensive tackle Chris Williams is expected to sign a one-year, $2 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons , according to ESPN. Williams played two seasons in Chicago, appearing in 31 games and totaling four sacks, nine QB hits and 37 combined tackles.

Williams becomes the second ex-Bear to sign with the Falcons and new general manager Ian Cunningham, who was previously the Bears assistant GM. He joins wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus .

The Bears earlier this week agreed to contracts with defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and versatile defensive lineman Kentavius Street. Those moves likely left Williams looking for a new home. Williams played 24.2% of the Bears defensive snaps in 2025 and saw limited action on special teams.

March 10: Bears sign DL Kentavius Street, reuniting him with DC Dennis Allen

The Bears added more depth up front, agreeing to terms with defensive lineman Kentavius Street on a one-year contract Tuesday.

Street, who turns 30 in May, becomes the second defensive lineman to join the fold after Neville Gallimore was added Monday.

A fourth-round draft pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2018, Street has been a journeyman, playing for four teams. That includes a one-year stop with the New Orleans Saints in 2022, where he played for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Street had a career-high 3½ sacks that season, coinciding with a career-high 518 snaps.

The 6-foot-2, 315-pound Street has some flexibility on the line but projects to compete for a spot in the interior rotation, where Gallimore is slated to play. Street spent about half of last season on the practice squad of the Atlanta Falcons before appearing in seven games, making 21 tackles with two sacks.

March 10: Bears reach deal with versatile DB Cam Lewis

The Bears have reached a two-year deal with former Buffalo Bills defensive back Cam Lewis, according to a report from ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Lewis was a jack-of-all-trades defensive back in Buffalo, similar to how the Bears used C.J. Gardner-Johnson last season. The Bills signed Lewis as an undrafted free agent in 2019, and he has spent all seven of his NFL seasons with them, playing safety, nickel and dime.

Last season he made four starts in 17 games and had 35 tackles, four passes defensed and a forced fumble.

In the Bills' divisional playoff game against the Denver Broncos , Lewis played free safety and had 10 tackles (second on the team) and two passes defensed, including a near-interception of a pass intended for Courtland Sutton .

Last year the Bears picked up Gardner-Johnson midseason to address a banged-up secondary. He brought tough tackling and timely blitzes but struggled at times to cover slot receivers.

March 10: CB Nahshon Wright parlays career year into max deal with Jets

Cornerback Nahshon Wright will sign a one-year, $5.5 million max deal with the New York Jets, according to multiple reports.

Wright, who had a $1.1 million salary-cap number last season, turned that one-year, prove-it deal with the Bears into career-high numbers: 80 tackles, five interceptions (tied for second in the league), 11 passes defensed, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles. His eight total takeaways led the NFL, and he was named to the Pro Bowl as an alternate .

Wright was the NFC's Defensive Player of the Month for November after compiling a league-high five takeaways (three interceptions, two fumble recoveries), the most by a Bears defender in a single month since 2007. He had a takeaway in five straight games, the most by a Bear since at least 1970.

Wright will bolster the Jets secondary after they traded Sauce Gardner to the Indianapolis Colts in November for two first-round draft picks.

Last season for the Bears, Wright received plenty of playing time when Jaylon Johnson was sidelined after core muscle surgery to repair a groin injury. After Johnson returned to his starting spot, Wright beat out 2023 second-round pick Tyrique Stevenson to man the opposite corner.

Stevenson's four-year rookie contract expires after the upcoming season.

March 10: Bears are signing former Lions WR Kalif Raymond

The Bears are expected to sign wide receiver/returner Kalif Raymond, who worked with Bears coach Ben Johnson and receivers coach Antwaan Randle-El in Detroit . According to NFL Network, the deal is for one year and $5.1 million.

Raymond, 31, has been in the NFL for a decade after going undrafted out of Holy Cross in 2016. He played the last five seasons with the Lions. He's a two-time second-team All-Pro as a punt returner and led the NFL with 413 punt-return yards in 2024. He has three punt-return touchdowns over the last four years.

Raymond contributed more on kickoff returns earlier in his career, but he fielded only six kickoffs last season. For his career, Raymond has 188 punt returns for an average of 10.4 yards.

On offense last season he contributed 24 receptions for 289 yards and one touchdown. He worked with Randle El as his receivers coach from 2021-24. That included his best season as a receiver when he totaled a career-high 616 yards in 2022.

Raymond's volume on offense took a step back over the last two seasons as former first-round pick Jameson Williams emerged as a 1,000-yard receiver for the Lions.

Raymond fills a need for the Bears as a returner. Devin Duvernay , who is a free agent, served as the primary kickoff and punt returner last season with 21 punt returns for an average of 11 yards and 40 kickoff returns for an average of 26.7 yards. No other Bears player recorded a punt return in 2025.

The Bears also need more depth at receiver after trading DJ Moore last week and watching Olamide Zaccheaus sign with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday. The current depth chart at receiver includes Rome Odunze , Luther Burden III , Jahdae Walker and Raymond.

March 9: LT Braxton Jones returns to Bears on 1-year deal

The Bears have reached an agreement with Braxton Jones to bring back the left tackle on a one-year deal worth up to $10 million. The move secures needed depth at tackle with Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss most of next season.

Jones began last season as the starter but lost favor fairly quickly. According to NFL Pro's Next Gen Stats, he allowed a team-high 12 pressures on 79 pass blocks (15.2%) during the first two games, though he didn't allow any against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 3.

However, Theo Benedet replaced him during the Week 4 game against the Las Vegas Raiders , and Jones never regained the starting job. He went on injured reserve with a knee injury after Week 7 and was activated before the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams .

Benedet eventually gave way in late November to the rookie Trapilo, who ruptured the patellar tendon in his knee during the wild-card playoff win against the Green Bay Packers . Rather than turn to Benedet or Jones, the Bears elected to move All-Pro left guard Joe Thuney to left tackle for the divisional matchup against the Rams.

Jones, who turns 27 on March 27, will enter his fifth season in Chicago. The Bears drafted him in the fifth round in 2022 out of Southern Utah.

March 9: Bears keep backup QB Case Keenum in the fold

The Bears reached agreement on a two-year, $5.5 million contract with third-string quarterback Case Keenum.

Keenum, 38, will be entering his 15th NFL season. He signed as an unrestricted free agent last April and mainly served as a veteran mentor to starter Caleb Williams .

"He has been tremendous in terms of Caleb's growth," coach Ben Johnson said during the Bears' playoff run in January. "That was really the thought process of bringing him in, is the guy with skins on the wall. He has played in big games himself on a high level."

Keenum spent all but one game last season as the emergency third quarterback (he wasn't available to play Dec. 14 against the Cleveland Browns).

His $2.75 million-per-year deal represents a modest raise over last season, when his cap number was $2.25 million, according to overthecap.com .

March 9: Ex-Bears LB Tremaine Edmunds signs with Giants

The New York Giants are signing former Bears linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a three-year, $36 million contract with $23.7 million guaranteed, according to NFL Network.

The Bears released Edmunds last week before what would've been the final year of the four-year, $72 million contract he signed in 2023. Edmunds played three seasons for the Bears, totaling 335 tackles, nine interceptions, 24 passes defended and two forced fumbles.

He became a salary-cap casualty before free agency. The Bears first allowed him to seek a trade , but after no trade partner emerged, the team cut him in order to save $15 million in cap space.

The Bears have since re-signed linebacker D'Marco Jackson and agreed to a contract with free agent Devin Bush Jr.

With the Giants, Edmunds will play for newly hired coach John Harbaugh and defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson. An eight-year NFL veteran, Edmunds previously played five seasons for the Buffalo Bills, making two Pro Bowls.

March 9: DE Dominique Robinson agrees to deal with Texans

Former Bears defensive end and special teams player Dominique Robinson has agreed to a one-year, $4 million deal with the Houston Texans, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.

Robinson, a 2022 fifth-round pick out of Miami (Ohio), spent four seasons in Chicago and had 3½ sacks and 67 tackles. He played 28% of the defensive snaps last season and 50% of the special teams snaps. He was inactive for five regular-season games, though he played in both playoff games.

Robinson had a salary-cap number of about $1.2 million last season.

March 9: Bears to sign LB Devin Bush Jr. to 3-year, $30 million contract

The Bears continue to focus on defense in the early hours of free agency. They're signing free-agent linebacker Devin Bush Jr. to a three-year, $30 million contract, according to multiple reports citing his agent, Drew Rosenhaus.

Bush, who will be 28 when next season begins, is a seven-year NFL veteran who has played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Seattle Seahawks and most recently Cleveland Browns. He started all 17 games last season for the Browns, totaling 125 tackles, three interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), two forced fumbles, two sacks and eight passes defended.

Bush gives the Bears a veteran linebacker just three days after the team officially released linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. Earlier Monday, the Bears re-signed linebacker D'Marco Jackson to a two-year contract. They also return veteran T.J. Edwards, who is recovering from a broken fibula suffered in the playoffs in January.

Over his seven seasons, Bush has played in 98 games with 78 starts. The Steelers made him the No. 10 pick coming out of Michigan in 2019.

March 9: Bears to sign former Seahawks safety Coby Bryant

The Bears are signing safety Coby Bryant to a free-agent contract, adding a veteran presence to the secondary. Bryant played his first four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, including last season's run to the Super Bowl title.

NFL Network first reported the deal, which ESPN reported is for $40 million over three years.

Bryant will fill a major hole on the roster after all four Bears safeties from 2025 — Kevin Byard III, Jaquan Brisker, Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens — hit free agency this week.

A 2022 fourth-round draft pick out of Cincinnati, where he won the Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's best defensive back, Bryant emerged as a starter over the last two years for coach Mike Macdonald's defense. He totaled seven interceptions in those two seasons, returning one for a touchdown.

In 2025, Bryant had four interceptions, seven passes defended, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery and 66 tackles in 15 regular-season starts. He played every defensive snap in Super Bowl LX and recorded four tackles and one pass defended.

Byrant, who turns 27 this month, gives the Bears a proven veteran who has played the position at the highest level.

March 9: DT Neville Gallimore agrees to 2-year deal with Bears

Less than an hour into the negotiating window, the Bears struck a deal to help firm up the interior of the defensive line, agreeing to terms with tackle Neville Gallimore on a two-year, $12 million contract, according to a league source.

Gallimore is considered a strong run defender and had a career-high 3½ sacks last season for the Indianapolis Colts. It was a major need for general manager Ryan Poles and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as the team entered the day with only two defensive tackles under contract: Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter Sr.

Gallimore, 29, has been a durable performer throughout his career and missed only four games over the last four seasons. Originally a third-round pick out of Oklahoma by the Dallas Cowboys in 2020, Gallimore also spent time with the Los Angeles Rams.

The Colts had Gallimore on the field for 467 snaps last season — close to the 511 plays that free agent Andrew Billings played for the Bears in 2025. While the pass rush also remains a significant concern, the Bears ranked 27th in the league in rushing defense, allowing 134.5 yards per game. They allowed 177 or more rushing yards in six regular-season games, and adding Gallimore to the rotation is a step toward shoring things up.

March 9: WR Olamide Zaccheaus expected to sign with Falcons

After one season with the Bears, wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus reportedly is signing with the Atlanta Falcons.

Former Bears assistant general manager Ian Cunningham, now the GM in Atlanta, is bringing Zaccheaus back to where his NFL career began as an undrafted free agent in 2019. NFL Network first reported the deal just minutes after the 11 a.m. negotiating period opened.

Zaccheaus appeared in 16 games for the Bears in 2025, totaling 39 receptions for 313 yards and two touchdowns. He began the year as the third option at receiver behind Rome Odunze and DJ Moore, but his playing time dipped late in the season as rookie Luther Burden III emerged as a bigger contributor.

Zaccheaus previously played four seasons in Atlanta. He also played one season each for the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders before joining the Bears on a one-year contract last year.

March 9: Bears re-sign LB D'Marco Jackson to 2-year deal

The Bears will bring back linebacker D'Marco Jackson on a two-year, $7.5 million contract that can max out at $10.5 million with incentives, according to reports from ESPN and NFL Network.

The news came just hours before Jackson, who was set to become an unrestricted free agent, could negotiate with other teams at 11 a.m.

The Bears claimed Jackson, 27, off waivers in late August after the New Orleans Saints made him one of their final roster cuts. Jackson's experience with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen — formerly the Saints head coach — played a part in the Bears' decision to bring him to Chicago.

Primarily a special teams player, Jackson played in 16 games last season and performed well when asked to step into the starting lineup for an injured Tremaine Edmunds for four games. Jackson earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after a mid-December win over the Cleveland Browns in which he recorded a sack and an interception.

In those four starts, Jackson totaled 30 tackles (including a season-high 15 in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers), two tackles for a loss, one sack, one interception and two passes defended. He played 60% of the special teams snaps for the season, fourth on the team.

With the Bears releasing Edmunds last week, they have an opening for a starting linebacker and Jackson could have an opportunity to earn the job. The 2022 fifth-round draft pick never has been a full-time starter, but he gives the Bears an option who already is familiar with Allen's system.

March 8: Bears sign Daniel Hardy to 2-year contract

It's no surprise that when the Bears needed an onside kick recovery in the Week 16 rally to stun the Green Bay Packers, they kicked to the side of the formation with Josh Blackwell and Daniel Hardy.

Blackwell has been one of the team's best special teams players for several seasons, and Hardy has emerged as a similarly valuable performer in that phase.

So, it wasn't a surprise when the Bears reached an agreement with Hardy on a two-year, $5 million contract Sunday night, preventing him from leaving in free agency.

Hardy led the Bears with 19 tackles on special teams last season and he provides more than just production for special teams coordinator Richard Hightower. He's a matchup problem for opponents because he's the rare defensive end — 6-foot-2, 255 pounds — who can play in the open field on special teams.

Hardy was a restricted free agent, and while the Bears didn't want to tender him at $3.52 million for one season, they did want him back. A two-year deal is just what Blackwell got when he was in the same position a year ago.

The Bears experimented a little with having Hardy play as a strong-side linebacker and, late in the season, he did a little moonlighting on offense as a fullback. But his primary role is on special teams, and even with a tighter salary-cap situation this year, the Bears are showing they don't want to cut major corners when it comes to a unit that performed well in 2025.

March 6: Bears trade for center Garrett Bradbury

The Bears agreed to trade a 2027 fifth-round draft pick to the New England Patriots in exchange for center Garrett Bradbury , per multiple reports. Bradbury immediately fills the void left by Drew Dalman's retirement.

A seven-year veteran, Bradbury has started 105 games in his NFL career. He spent six seasons with the Minnesota Vikings before signing with the Patriots in free agency a year ago.

Bradbury has played in all 17 games during each of the past two seasons. He also has familiarity playing with Bears All-Pro Joe Thuney. The two were college teammates at N.C. State.

The trade cannot become official until 3 p.m. Wednesday, but it filled a major need for the Bears before free agency even began.

March 5: Bears release LB Tremaine Edmunds

The Bears are set to release linebacker Tremaine Edmunds , a league source confirmed to the Tribune. Doing so will save $15 million against the salary cap in 2026.

Edmunds played three seasons with the Bears, appearing in 45 games and totaling nine interceptions, two forced fumbles and 335 tackles. The Bears originally signed him to a four-year, $72 million contract in March 2023. At an $18 million average annual value, that made him the third-highest-paid linebacker in the NFL last season.

Releasing Edmunds in conjunction with the DJ Moore trade and Drew Dalman's retirement freed up more than $40 million in cap space. Before those moves, the Bears were about $7 million over the cap, so they head into free agency with about $33 million to spend.

The Bears previously allowed Edmunds to seek a trade, but it doesn't appear that a trade partner ever emerged. He will become a free agent immediately.

March 5: Bears agree to trade WR DJ Moore to Bills

The Bears will send wide receiver DJ Moore and a 2026 fifth-round draft pick to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick once trades can become official Wednesday, according to multiple national reports.

It's an abrupt ending to Moore's three-year tenure in Chicago that began with a 1,364-yard season in 2023 after the Bears acquired him from the Carolina Panthers as part of a package for the No. 1 pick. Moore signed a four-year, $110 million extension the next summer that kicks in this year, and he was due to cost $28.5 million against the 2026 salary cap.

Trading him will save the Bears about $16.5 million against the cap.

March 3: Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman retires at 27

One year after signing a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears, center Drew Dalman informed the team he is retiring . Dalman was a centerpiece on the retooled offensive line , one of three additions the team made on the interior last year.

He and guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson started every game last season, with Dalman and Thuney making the Pro Bowl — Dalman's first selection. All three remained under contract for 2026 before Dalman's surprising decision.

His retirement vaults center up the list of needs for the Bears, who already were looking for solutions at left tackle with Ozzy Trapilo expected to be sidelined for most of next season.

Feb. 25: Bears allow LB Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade

The Bears gave linebacker Tremaine Edmunds permission to seek a trade during the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. If no trade partner emerges, the assumption is the Bears will release Edmunds and save $15 million against the salary cap.

Edmunds signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Bears in 2023 and has one year remaining on that deal. He has appeared in 45 regular-season games for the Bears and has nine interceptions.

Feb. 19: Bears release LB Amen Ogbongbemiga

The Bears started clearing salary-cap space by terminating the contract of linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga . The move created $2.07 million in cap space.

A core special teams player, Ogbongbemiga re-signed with the Bears last offseason on a two-year, $5 million deal and was set to earn up to $2.25 million in 2026. He was arguably their most consistent special teams player in 2024.

Which Bears players are hitting free agency?

A number of Bears defensive backs are hitting the free-agent market, including all four of their safeties.

All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III likely will have the biggest market. He led the NFL with seven interceptions last year and was a leader on the defense. The Bears signed Byard to a two-year, $15 million contract in 2024 , and he could have a robust market after his big season, despite the fact he'll be 33 when next season begins.

Other players hitting free agency include safeties Jaquan Brisker, Jonathan Owens and Elijah Hicks, cornerbacks Nahshon Wright and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, linebacker D'Marco Jackson, defensive end Dominique Robinson and defensive tackle Andrew Billings.

Wright was a surprise difference-maker in 2025 after signing a one-year, $1.1 million deal with the Bears in April. He wound up emerging as a starter and totaled five interceptions and three fumble recoveries, making the Pro Bowl as an alternate and likely earning himself a big raise.

On the offense, tackle Braxton Jones and wide receivers Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay are among the players due to be free agents. Jones started 44 games at left tackle over four years but lost his starting spot last season.

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