Week 1 of NFL free agency is in the books, and the Chicago Bears didn't do too bad.
Despite spending limits, the Bears' general manager, Ryan Poles, managed to create some cap space while keeping key players and adding new talent. None of the signings would be considered big-splash signings, but they were enough for the roster to look in pretty good shape.
The real question is whether that will hold up well for the Bears as big winners or losers from the opening week. Here's a look at who the biggest winners and losers were for Chicago so far.
Winner: Ryan Poles, General Manager
Yes, fans wanted Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson, but Poles managed to do a really good job building roster depth. Coby Bryant and Devin Bush are upgrades at their positions, and Jedrick Wills Jr. might end up being the steal of free agency with his starting experience. None of them would be high-profile signings, but they all make an impact, with Poles doing enough to set them up for the NFL Draft.
Loser: T.J. Edwards, Linebacker
With Bush now in the picture and D'Marco Jackson getting re-signed, Edwards' future with the Bears is up in the air. Over the last couple of seasons, Edwards has produced a lot of tackles, but has not been the difference-maker Bears fans were hoping he would be. He is about to meet the fate that Tremaine Edmunds met when the 2027 offseason begins next year.
Winner: Coby Bryant, Safety
Bryant goes from winning a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks to collecting a nice payday from the Bears. He signed a three-year, $40 million deal with Chicago, as he has been the highest-paid Bears free agent so far. Chicago gets some youth and experience in the secondary while Bryant finds his perfect home for the next three seasons.
Winner: Braxton Jones, Left Tackle
Jones was not expected to be back in Chicago in 2026 after losing his starting job within the first month of the season, but with the market quiet for him, the Bears brought him back with a $10 million deal for one year. That's the kind of money that gets paid to someone who should be the starter in 2026, so even if this ends up being his final year, Jones is hoping to go out with a bang with an improved performance.
Read more: Jedrick Wills Jr. got honest about his health entering 2026 Bears season
Loser: Dennis Allen's Secondary
The Bears are certainly going to have their work cut out for them as they only retained Jaylon Jones from last year's secondary. They managed to lose Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, Nahshon Wright, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Jonathan Owens in one week. Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is going to have a lot of work to get this unit back on track.