Following the 2026 NFL Draft, there are a few positions that Chicago Bears fans might be a little uneasy about.
The draft didn't exactly go as the fan base thought it would at times, but Ryan Poles stuck to his board and went with the best available players at each pick. Whether fans are more curious over picks like wide receiver Zavion Thomas or tight end Sam Roush, the Bears ended up going some routes that not many of us saw coming.
Fortunately, the free-agent pool still has some respected veterans who can help the Bears at key positions not addressed in the draft.
After the NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears should pursue one or more of these free agents
Let's start out with the area most fans are most doubtful over.
Joey Bosa, DE
With the Bears not addressing the pass rush, Poles was asked about it and responded in a way that seemed he was confident in the players Chicago has on the roster. It makes sense that the Bears have already made their bed with Dayo Odeyingbo, so now they've got to lie in it, but one can't help but wonder about adding another vet.
Joey Bosa could be one of the more perfect additions at this point. Last year with the Bills, Bosa stayed fairly healthy and appeared in 15 games, totaling 5.0 sacks and five forced fumbles. He proved the ability to get after the quarterback with the most pressures he's had since 2021 (24 per Pro Football Reference).
Jadeveon Clowney, DE
Along the same lines, Chicago has additional options and could go after a guy who has played for seven teams in the last eight years, yet continues to show he can be a high-level rotational rusher. Jadeveon Clowney totaled 8.5 sacks last year with the Dallas Cowboys while playing only 44 percent of defensive snaps.
Last year was one of Clowney's most efficient seasons as a pro. With the Bears having only one legitimate full-time starter in Montez Sweat, Clowney could join a rotation with Odeyingbo and Austin Booker, along with Shemar Turner, and hopefully piece together a formidable attack.
D.J. Reader, DT
The Bears didn't go for a defensive lineman until Round 6 when they drafted Jordan Van den Berg, so why not add more talent here? D.J. Reader is a good run stuffer and gives the Bears even more competition in a group that needs a little kick in the pants.
Between Grady Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, Kentavius Street, and Neville Gallimore, I am not so sure this fan base is confident in what they'll see out of that bunch. Reader is still worthy of being a starter and offers Dennis Allen a gritty presence.
Dare Ogunbowale, RB
Chicago did not draft a running back, which was a good call in the end.
It appears Roschon Johnson has the inside track at sticking around one more year as the team's third running back. Last year, he was hardly used. But, if the Bears wanted a running back who was more practical as the RB3, Dare Ogunbowale makes a ton of sense.
Read more: The best pick of Bears' draft might've been one they never actually made
Ogunbowale can catch the ball, and he's also a stellar pass protector. He's a no-brainer if the Bears want a third running back who will actually be used.
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