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

[Mongo3451]

Below is a list of upcoming free agents.  There's a lot of work to be done.  Too bad we don't have some big money guys falling off the books like: Jarrett, Dayo, Montez, DJ and Edmunds.  With Newman and Benedet emerging, I could see us trading Jackson or Thuney to gain some picks.  Not sure anyone would trade for any of the four defenders.  I'm sure we could move DJ in a trade for picks.  Who do you think stays and goes out of the free agents?

Jonathan Ford     DT     630000
CG Johnson         CB     650000
Joe Shoyinka       DE     729000
Theo Benedet      OG    840000
Daniel Hardy        DE   1030000
Devin Duvernay   ST   1030000
Scott Daly             LS   1030000
Jaylon Jones        CB   1100000
Nahshon Wright   CB   1100000
Demarko Jackson LB  1100000
Elijah Hicks            S    1100000
Dom Rob               DE   1100000
Nick McCloud      CB    1180000
O. Zacheous         WR  1500000
Travis Homer        RB   1645000
Jonathan Owens  S     1925000
Case Keenum       QB  2250000
Durham Smythe   TE   2500000
Chris Williams      DT  3263000
Andrew Billings    DT  3320000
Ryan Bates           OG  4000000
Jaquan Brisker     S    4038000
Kevin Byard          S    8500000

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

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.

I agree with your comments but Dexter is under contract for next year according to OTC and will be cheap so I dont see him leaving. 

[Mongo3451]

12 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I agree with your comments but Dexter is under contract for next year according to OTC and will be cheap so I dont see him leaving. 

Good catch on Dexter.  They might as well let him play out his rookie deal.

[Stinger226]

As we look at roster construction Poles finds bargains along the way Gardener- Johnson, NaShoun Wright-DeMarco Jackson. I think this is a spot he excels at . Plenty to criticize him for but the overall picture has us 9-3 and more victories to come this year. I had him graded a C- going into the year but his draft is turning out to be great and some of the cheap FA additions have added a lot. Jarrett hasnt play well because of injuries but I have notice him the last few games as he has gotten healthier. Dayo appears a bust type but not playing now leaves that in limbo. The OL additions was a home run. Dead money for next year is only 542 thousand which is playing the game well.

[AZ54]

If we’re going to carry a pure NT type on the roster I’d replace Billings with the Big Citrus out of Iowa State in rd 3.  Bigger faster maybe not stronger because Billings is a beast.  Both have a love for the buffet.  Better length helps Orange as a space eater whereas Billings gets moved around a lot.  
 

Iowa State’s defensive scheme is pure garbage.  I think better coaching can get more out of Orange but I’m not going to say there is huge upside.  Then again I’m talking about round 3 but he can become a good piece in your DT rotation which is a lot more than we get from Billings. 
 

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/domonique-orange-nfl-draft-week-10-2025/

[Stinger226]

4 hours ago, AZ54 said:

If we’re going to carry a pure NT type on the roster I’d replace Billings with the Big Citrus out of Iowa State in rd 3.  Bigger faster maybe not stronger because Billings is a beast.  Both have a love for the buffet.  Better length helps Orange as a space eater whereas Billings gets moved around a lot.  
 

Iowa State’s defensive scheme is pure garbage.  I think better coaching can get more out of Orange but I’m not going to say there is huge upside.  Then again I’m talking about round 3 but he can become a good piece in your DT rotation which is a lot more than we get from Billings. 
 

https://www.profootballnetwork.com/domonique-orange-nfl-draft-week-10-2025/

Orange is the type that Poles likes being so athletic but like he did this year he will let the draft dictate his choices. I think we address DE, S, and DT in the top of the draft. I think this draft will focus on defense. OL is set, RB is solid, TE and WRs are set because of the 25 draft. We have 7 picks with 3 top 100 . I think Poles will again do some trade backs to get another top 100 player. With 4 in the top 100 we can fill our biggest needs. I think he may add a LB to that group or another DL. Edmunds and Edwards contracts are Cap friendly after the 26 season as far being able to move on and LB may be a focus this year and next. 

I still think this team is on draft mode to improve the team and because of the Cap wont be trading anyone to bring in a big contract vet. If Caleb improves our offense is only getting better and will allow the drafted players to work their way into the improving the D.  

Looking at Draft Buzz's top 100 lots of choices at S, LB,  and in the DL that will push us to rely on the draft to improve. If we keep winning our draft position is going to be 25 to 30 and falling in that draft area is Caleb Banks/DE 6-6 330 that would be a perfect fit for DAs defense. Could play both inside and outside. Draft positions will change a lot by January so probably will move up. He will probably be drafted as a 5T before he gets to our spot.