It might be hard to think about now, especially with the team's current salary cap situation, but there are still players out there for the Chicago Bears to go after.
Chicago currently has the lowest salary cap space in the NFL with $243,078 to work with, according to Over The Cap. Of course, this means the Bears must restructure contracts and offer extensions before they can even consider adding a free-agent player.
There may be a few options out there for the Bears to sign once they do get the money to really consider for the 2026 roster. One should be avoided at all costs, no matter what happens.
Bears should not even glance at DJ Reader's direction in free agency
Reader is a 10-year NFL veteran who has played for three teams. Chicago is familiar with his work since he played for the Detroit Lions over the last two years.
With 128 starts to his resume, it might be tempting to bring him into a defensive tackle room that is currently getting rebuilt by the Bears. Chicago has already signed some defensive tackles to the team, including James Lynch, Kentavius Street, and Neville Gallimore.
While Reader can still play at a good level in his career, at 31, the Bears are better off looking at other options. Chicago needs to get younger on defense and bring in some fresh blood from the NFL Draft for Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen to develop. Guys like Lynch, Street, and Gallimore are short-term solutions until they find the right guy.
Grady Jarrett has not lived up to expectations after signing a three-year contract last offseason, so the Bears need a young tackle who can work alongside Gervon Dexter. Pairing Dexter with another tackle, potentially from the NFL Draft, gives the Bears a formidable tandem for the next four to five years.
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It would be a nice thought to have Reader, but the Bears should avoid him.