The Chicago Bears continue to do work on their defensive line as they add yet another defensive tackle to the team.
NFL insider Ian Rapoport reported that the Bears have signed defensive tackle James Lynch to a one-year deal. Lynch had previously played for the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans.
Last year with the Titans, he racked up 25 tackles, three quarterback hits, one tackle for loss, one pass deflection, and a half sack in 17 games. He has 98 tackles, seven tackles for loss, and seven quarterback hits in his five-season NFL career.
Bears add James Lynch to the defensive line
Lynch joins Kentavius Street and Neville Gallimore as the new additions to the defensive line after almost two weeks of free agency in the books. While this is a group with a lot of experience, they are all good rotational players who can help the defense.
Many Bears fans would prefer to have a starting-caliber defensive tackle join the team, but Lynch at least gives Chicago more depth at a position that saw multiple players leave the team. If Chicago looks at a starter at defensive tackle, it would most likely come in the NFL Draft in one of the earlier rounds.
The Bears still have Grady Jarrett and Gervon Dexter, who are more than capable of starting. Jarrett had a disappointing 2025 season in Chicago, but he has a chance to bounce back. Dexter was second on the team in sacks with six, so he's got the talent level to take a major stride on this team in 2026.
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Chicago got better with Lynch on the team, even if it doesn't feel like it had a massive effect on the team.