Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears are facing a series of impossible decisions this offseason. The team made major strides in 2025, headlined by a transformed offense led by Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. For the first time in years, the positivity surrounding the Bears is more than just misguided optimism.
Around the NFL, we've seen this moment in franchise development act as a crossroads. Teams either push the chips into the center of the table and spend big money in free agency, or they play the long game. The Bears are facing an entirely different set of issues. They're set to lose nearly half of their defensive players to free agency, and they might not have the money to do anything about it.
Even if Chicago has to let go of a few defenders to enter the 2026 season under the salary cap, Poles needs to do what it takes to keep these three veterans in the building.
3 Bears veterans Ryan Poles needs to re-sign in 2026
Jaquan Brisker
Poles may have to decide which of his two starting safeties to keep this offseason. Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III are both set to hit free agency after having solid seasons in 2025. Byard may have had the more productive year, but he's already 32 years old.
Spotrac estimates that Brisker's market value will sit around $10 million this offseason. Even if Poles has to beat that number to keep the safety in Chicago, he shouldn't hesitate.
Nahshon Wright
The Bears' defense thrived on creating turnovers in 2025, and Nahshon Wright was at the heart of it. He brought down five interceptions on the season, regularly making game-changing plays. Of course, it's fair to expect some statistical regression from the 27-year-old next year, but he established himself as a starter in Dennis Allen's defense. He's set to earn a major pay increase this offseason, but that shouldn't keep the Bears from making a strong offer.
Read more: CBS Sports confirms Ryan Poles struck gold with Bears' 2025 draft class
C.J. Gardner-Johnson
C.J. Gardner-Johnson was another key piece of the Bears' defensive identity down the stretch of the 2025 season. His aggressive play and knack for taking away the football were valuable to Allen's unit, as he recorded two interceptions and one forced fumble in just ten games. He has bounced around the league in recent years, but the Bears should look to make Chicago his long-term home.