Looking at the free agents the Chicago Bears have this offseason, it's tough to pinpoint players who the team definitely will want to have back.
On some level, it is likely that the Bears do have some interest in bringing back veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. However, even after a down season with the Bears, Allen is going to command a similar deal to the one Mike Evans signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last offseason. While Caleb Williams did trust Allen last season, which could be a reason why the connection should continue for the 2025 season, the needs the Bears have across their roster may prevent a reunion with the former Pro Bowl wide receiver.
One of those needs, and perhaps, the biggest one, is along the offensive line. While conventional wisdom would point to the Bears wanting to bring back Teven Jenkins, the lineman who had the highest ceiling on the Bears' offensive line last season outside of Darnell Wright, Jenkins' availability concerns likely will prevent a return to the Bears.
But after looking at two key Bears' free agents who likely won't be back with the team in 2025, who are the free agents who might re-sign with the team?
1. Matt Pryor
Jenkins, Matt Pryor, and Coleman Shelton are all free agents this offseason. In other words, three of the five Bears' starting offensive linemen from the 2024 season aren't under contract with the team for next season. With Ryan Bates already under contract for the 2025 season, it's difficult to point to Shelton's return, and we already laid out the reason why Jenkins won't be back. The Bears will still need depth, and for that reason, re-signing Pryor might be an option for the team this offseason.
2. Patrick Scales or Scott Daly
We're going to count Patrick Scales and Scott Daly as one free-agent in this sense. The Bears are going to need a long snapper for the 2025 season and if Cairo Santos is back as the team's kicker, it would make sense for it to be one of Scales or Daly.
3. Darrell Taylor
Darrell Taylor did not have the exact impact the Chicago Bears were likely hoping for when they sent a sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for Taylor last August. Even if the Bears add an established pass-rusher to put on the other end of the defensive line, re-signing Taylor could be a much-needed depth addition.