2026 Roster - Early Look

[adam]

These are the guys that are not under contract for 2026 who have been key contributors in 2025 so far:

S - Byard (1st INT, 2nd Tackles, 2nd TFL) - Playing at an All-Pro level
CB - Wright (2nd INT, 5th Tackles, 5th TFL) - Playing at a Pro-Bowl level, experience with DA.
DB - CJ Gardner-Johnson (2nd TFL, 3rd Sacks, 4th QB Hits) - Since joining the Bears, has been a spark plug for the defense. Experience with DA.
S - Brisker (3rd tackles) - Playing solid, but feels replaceable.
DT - Billings - Run plugger. Don't know if he will be back.
WR3 - Zaccheaus (3rd Receptions, 5th Rec Yds) - He wont' be back.
 

With both Byard and Brisker needing deals, with Brisker's injury history, I don't think they resign him.

Wright will be interesting with guys like Stevenson, Smith, and Frazier already on the roster. Can they afford to extend him? He fits DA's mold for CBs than Stevenson does.

[BearFan PHX]

Right, and we arent going to keep both Gordon and CJGJ as nickel corners. I think CJGJ moves to safety and that solves two problems with one gesture, and keeps all that talent on the field.

[Lucky Luciano]

9 minutes ago, adam said:

These are the guys that are not under contract for 2026 who have been key contributors in 2025 so far:

S - Byard (1st INT, 2nd Tackles, 2nd TFL) - Playing at an All-Pro level
CB - Wright (2nd INT, 5th Tackles, 5th TFL) - Playing at a Pro-Bowl level, experience with DA.
DB - CJ Gardner-Johnson (2nd TFL, 3rd Sacks, 4th QB Hits) - Since joining the Bears, has been a spark plug for the defense. Experience with DA.
S - Brisker (3rd tackles) - Playing solid, but feels replaceable.
DT - Billings - Run plugger. Don't know if he will be back.
WR3 - Zaccheaus (3rd Receptions, 5th Rec Yds) - He wont' be back.
 

unless i am not seeing it, billings has mailed it in this season and last. if they resign him next year for more than league minimum they are crazy. he had a decent game yesterday. before that he just stands around watching the plays go past him. seems lazy and uninterested. his tackle count looks dismal (11 solo and 8 assists in 12 games? yikes) when you consider the amount of opponents running plays up the middle for big yards every week. barely gets any penetration on passing plays. ford doesn't look much better if any.

i want to comment also on a topic i posted before.... gambling or at least the fix from refs.

the refs, the league and the talking heads are pushing certain teams into the playoffs with piss poor calls on the field and nonsense hype. they want the cowboys in the playoffs and are determined to get them there.

if anyone watched the cowboys chiefs game there can be no doubt that the refs are in someones pocket. it was so FREAKIN obvious i can't believe it's not headline news. 3-4 mins left to play and the boys are trying to move downfield and eat the clock. chiefs down by 3. not one, but TWO bogus pass interference calls on the defense giving the boys first downs instead of punting and moving them into chiefs territory. if you watch these two plays it is pass interference, but on the offense. this was so obvious that i can't even believe the booth didn't jump in.

another bogus offensive holding call on the chiefs earlier in the game killed a drive. that was a call so minor as to be nonexistant it was mind boggling.

the league and fans are sick of the chiefs in it so this is how they are killing them from the playoffs. mcholmes is taking a non call beating and tit for tat penalty calls that used to go in their favor are boomeranged.

I dislike the chief organization and truly despise jerry jones and the cowboys but man, if this is what we can expect in the future, welcome to an EVENT and not a sport.

[Mongo3451]

If Brisker leaves via FA, he could get us a comp pick.  Dexter needs a contract and personally think he sucks.  If keep every other DB except Owens and McCloud.  Some players will stay here more cheaply, like Billings and Byard.  Need a youth movement at LB.  And pass rush is paramount.

[BearFan PHX]

I would be happy to put our first three draft picks on defense. DE, DT and LB