The Chicago Bears have 26 free agents who will be available to other teams, making things tougher for the team out of the Windy City.
They have some big decisions, including whether to bring back guys like Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nahshon Wright, D'Marco Jackson, and Braxton Jones. With so many players back, at least half of them won't be back on the roster.
Of the big names that aren't being brought up, which ones should be re-signed by the Bears for the 2026 season?
Durham Smythe, TE
If Cole Kmet indeed does get cut or traded, the Bears are going to be lacking in depth at tight end. Chicago would most likely just draft another one, but Smythe at least would at least have someone who knows Ben Johnson's offense. Last season, Smythe only had four receptions for 25 yards, but the Bears just need him to be a reliable TE3 on the team.
Case Keenum, QB
Last preseason, the Bears saw that they had a deep quarterback room with Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Case Keenum. There are trade rumors with Bagent, so if the Bears deal him away, Keenum must be brought back to back up Williams and give them at least one veteran on the bench.
Jonathan Owens, S
The safety position is already taking a massive hit, with Byard and Brisker also free agents, so depth will be a big problem for Chicago. Owens can help the Bears not only with depth on defense but also as one of the team's best special teams players. Even if it is just on a one-year deal, Owens has to be brought back on the team.
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Andrew Billings, DT
Defensive tackle was not a strong position for the Bears last year, but the defensive line has several pending free agents. Billings is a solid depth player for the Bears, with 12 tackles and one sack in 2025. Unless they find multiple players who can help at the position, bringing Billings back is a smart move.