Predicting Bears 2026 starting defense after first wave of free agency

The Chicago Bears are in the middle of an important 2026 offseason where there’s already been plenty of change on the roster through the first wave of free agency.

That includes the losses of wide receiver DJ Moore, linebacker DJ Moore, safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, cornerback Nahshon Wright, linebacker Tremaine Edmunds and center Drew Dalman. But there’s also been some new additions to the roster, including safety Coby Bryant, linebacker Devin Bush, center Garrett Bradbury, defensive tackle Neville Gallimore and wide receiver Kalif Raymond.

Following the first wave of free agency, we’re doing our best to predict what the Bears defense could look like heading into the 2026 season. When looking at these projections on defense, Chicago still has plenty of needs to address heading into the draft, including a starting safety and shoring up the pass rush.

DE Montez Sweat

While the pass rush notably struggled, Montez Sweat had a bounce-back year after a disappointing 2024 season. Sweat recorded double-digit sacks for the first time with the Bears (he totaled 12.5 between Chicago and Washington when the Commanders traded him in 2023). He also totaled 53 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 18 QB hits, 53 pressures, three forced fumbles and five pass breakups. While Sweat wasn’t a superstar at the position, he was consistent and was easily the best part of Chicago’s struggling pass rush. He could certainly benefit from another big name opposite him.

DE Dayo Odeyingbo

The Bears didn’t make a move at edge rusher in free agency, but they’re expected to target it during the NFL draft. So, for the time being, Dayo Odeyingbo is penciled in as the starter opposite Sweat, although Austin Booker could challenge him. Odeyingbo was a non-factor in Dennis Allen’s defense last season, but GM Ryan Poles has sang his praises this offseason as he works to get back to form.

DT Gervon Dexter

Right now, Gervon Dexter is the best defensive tackle the Bears have, and he’ll need a big season in what’s a contract year for the former second-round pick. Last season, Dexter tallied a career-best six sacks, ending the season in total pressures (22) and hits (11) along to go along with 26 hurries. That’s the kind of production Chicago needs from its interior linemen to provide a boost for the pass rush. Dexter wasn’t elite by any means, but he still had his moments.

DT Grady Jarrett

The Bears bet big on Grady Jarrett last offseason, signing him to a multi-year deal to shore up the interior defensive line, but he had an overall disappointing season in 2025. Jarrett played in 14 of 17 regular-season games and both postseason contests, but he didn’t really make an impact as an interior pass rusher (3.0 sacks) or run defender. His biggest impact game in the locker room, but that might not be enough to retain a starting job ~~when~~ if Chicago upgrades at the position, which could come in the first round of the NFL draft.

LB T.J. Edwards

The Bears signed T.J. Edwards to a two-year contract extension last April, keeping him in Chicago through 2027, but he didn’t live up to it during the 2025 season. Edwards missed most of the season due to injuries, but he started all 10 games he played in and logged 67 tackles, an interception and 0.5 sack. Edwards suffered a fractured fibula in Chicago’s wild-card win over the Packers, which will sideline him for most of the offseason, but he’s on track to return in 2026.

LB Devin Bush

After releasing Tremaine Edmunds, which freed up $15 million in salary cap space, the Bears addressed the departure with the signing of Devin Bush, who signed a three-year, $30 million contract. Bush is coming off a career year with the Browns, where he totaled 125 tackles, including seven tackles for loss, three interceptions, including two picks returned for touchdowns, eight pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, 2.0 sacks and four QB hits in 17 starts. He’ll bring a lot of speed to the linebacker room as he fills the WILL linebacker role left by Edmunds.

CB Jaylon Johnson

The Bears were without their star cornerback for most of the 2025 season after suffering a groin injury before training camp and led to him suffering a new groin injury in Week 2 that held him out until November. When Johnson did return to the field (he played in seven games), it was clear that he wasn’t healthy but trying everything to be there for his team amid the playoff hunt. Johnson admitted that he wasn’t 100 percent, and that it was going to take time, but he did improve and looked like himself at times during the final stretch of the season and the postseason. The hope is he’ll be able to rest up and return to his Pro Bowl form in 2026.

CB Tyrique Stevenson

Nahshon Wright had a Pro Bowl year for the Bears, but he departed in free agency. While cornerback is a need this offseason, it’s near the bottom of a lengthy list. So, for now, Tyrique Stevenson is penciled in as the starter opposite Johnson on the outside, although there are questions about whether he can be trusted as the long-term option. There will be opportunities to upgrade in free agency and the NFL draft, as well as some internal players who could compete for the starting job. But Stevenson gets the nod for now.

NCB Kyler Gordon

Like Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon missed most of the 2025 season due to injury. In fact, he spent two different stints on injured reserve (at the start of 2025 and then midway through). It was disappointing after the Bears rewarded Gordon with a lucrative three-year, $40 million contract extension that made him the highest-paid slot cornerback at the time. When on the field, Gordon has been a game-changer for this defense. But that was the issue as he appeared in just three games this season. He’s going to need to focus on conditioning this offseason with the hopes of playing his first full season in Year 5.

S Coby Bryant

The Bears signed a young playmaker in Coby Bryant on the first day of free agency to fill one of two starting safety jobs. Bryant, a former fourth-round pick, played a big part of Seattle’s Super Bowl run, totaling 66 tackles, four interceptions, seven pass breakups and one forced fumble in 2025. He converted from cornerback to safety a couple of years ago, but he’s thrived in his new position. Bryant is a ballhawk who will slide into the role vacated by Kevin Byard.

S TBA (Future Rookie)

The Bears lost both starting safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, who departed in free agency. While they did land Coby Bryant, there’s still a starting safety job to fill in the NFL draft. Chicago has four picks in the top 89 selections, including the 25th overall pick and a pair of second rounders. The Bears should have some top options available in the first round, including Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who’s been a popular name mocked to Chicago this offseason.

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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Predicting Bears 2026 starting defense after first wave of free agency