With the unexpected retirement of Dalman, the Bears lost 5 of their top 9 players in snap count, and 6 out of the top 11. Those 6 were all starters. Then they also lost what I would call 4 key contributors, players with a significant number of snaps. Here is a quick rundown of the losses and gains so far and how I think they will address them:

ADD/SUB LIST

STARTERS:

1. C Drew Dalman (1154+15) >>> C Garrett Bradbury. On paper, a downgrade, but it may actually be a pass pro upgrade and run block downgrade)

2. S Jaquan Brisker (1072+90) >>> With the biggest contract put into Bryant, I assume they draft a Safety in the first 3 rounds and sign a vet or two to league minimum deals to compete.

3. S Kevin Byard (1071+1) >>> S Coby Bryant, biggest FA acquisition, is an all-around upgrade as Bryant is more versatile than Byard and Brisker.

4. CB Nahshon Wright (1041+18) >>> (Stevenson, Smith, Frazier) This hole will be filled from within. That's why they have Al Harris.

5. WR DJ Moore (979+2) >>> (Odunze+200, Burden+400, Walker+100) Odunze missed a lot of time, Burden didn't get going until late, and Walker probably gets more snaps to fill these snaps. If Burden gets the bulk of these snaps and targets, the offense will be more efficient. If anything, they bring in a vet minimum guy, which there are a ton (Josh Reynolds - played with Johnson, Gabe Davis, Zay Jones, etc.)

6. LB Tremaine Edmunds (813+11) >>> LB Devin Bush. Clear upgrade, Edmunds played small, Bush plays big and fast. Teams won't be able to get those easy 5 yards per carry anymore as Bush fills the hole much quicker and can recover better than Edmunds. Edmunds was like a tall tackling dummy.

----------------------------------------------------
KEY CONTRIBUTORS:

7. DT Andrew Billings (511+72) >>> DT Neville Gallimore. Billings was terrible in 2025; almost anyone will be an upgrade here.

8. WR Olamide Zacchaeus (580+2) >>> WR Kalif Raymond. Raymond's familiarity with Johnson's offense and top-notch PR ability make this a really nice depth signing.

9. CB Nick McCloud (436+143) >>> CB Cam Lewis. Just like Billings, anyone replacing McCloud will be an upgrade, besides Kindle Vildor.

10. DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (565+10) >>> (Gordon, Lewis). I think Gordon and Lewis take most of these snaps. They will still add a vet min guy too.

----------------------------------------------------

OTHERS:

11. TE Durham Smythe (293+230) >>>

12. DE Dominique Robinson (215+161) >>>

13. S Jonathan Owens (47+264) >>>

14. WR/KR Devin Duvernay (40+209) >>>

15. DT Chris Williams (219+20) >>> DL Kentavious Street

So the BLUF is, there really aren't huge holes to fill. This team was one play away from the NFCC, and has been adding team speed on defense to make it less reliant on the takeaway. Safety seems like the only spot that they would be drafting to fill a hole. The rest can be BPA focused on DT and Edge.

We got faster at every position you listed.

48 minutes ago, adam said:

So the BLUF is, there really aren't huge holes to fill. This team was one play away from the NFCC, and has been adding team speed on defense to make it less reliant on the takeaway. Safety seems like the only spot that they would be drafting to fill a hole. The rest can be BPA focused on DT and Edge.

Yet all the Twitter bots are screaming about the Bears lack of FA signings, the Bears being broke....yatta, yatta, yatta. The Bears have done well given they were over the cap a month ago.

42 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Yet all the Twitter bots are screaming about the Bears lack of FA signings, the Bears being broke....yatta, yatta, yatta. The Bears have done well given they were over the cap a month ago.

All Social Media is a cesspool of hate. Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter all say the same thing. They wanted the Bears to sign Linderbaum and Hendrickson, and anything less would've been a failure. In reality, signing free agents from the lower cap hit positional groups is smarter money. You get more bang for your buck that way.

26 minutes ago, adam said:

All Social Media is a cesspool of hate. Reddit, Facebook, and Twitter all say the same thing. They wanted the Bears to sign Linderbaum and Hendrickson, and anything less would've been a failure. In reality, signing free agents from the lower cap hit positional groups is smarter money. You get more bang for your buck that way.

And you dont get stuck with under performers like we tend to do. Im excited to see a healthier Jarrett and Dayo redeem themselves. Not that I expect sacks from Dayo, but great run D and edge containment

2 hours ago, adam said:

With the unexpected retirement of Dalman, the Bears lost 5 of their top 9 players in snap count, and 6 out of the top 11. Those 6 were all starters. Then they also lost what I would call 4 key contributors, players with a significant number of snaps. Here is a quick rundown of the losses and gains so far and how I think they will address them:

ADD/SUB LIST

STARTERS:

1. C Drew Dalman (1154+15) >>> C Garrett Bradbury. On paper, a downgrade, but it may actually be a pass pro upgrade and run block downgrade)

2. S Jaquan Brisker (1072+90) >>> With the biggest contract put into Bryant, I assume they draft a Safety in the first 3 rounds and sign a vet or two to league minimum deals to compete.

3. S Kevin Byard (1071+1) >>> S Coby Bryant, biggest FA acquisition, is an all-around upgrade as Bryant is more versatile than Byard and Brisker.

4. CB Nahshon Wright (1041+18) >>> (Stevenson, Smith, Frazier) This hole will be filled from within. That's why they have Al Harris.

5. WR DJ Moore (979+2) >>> (Odunze+200, Burden+400, Walker+100) Odunze missed a lot of time, Burden didn't get going until late, and Walker probably gets more snaps to fill these snaps. If Burden gets the bulk of these snaps and targets, the offense will be more efficient. If anything, they bring in a vet minimum guy, which there are a ton (Josh Reynolds - played with Johnson, Gabe Davis, Zay Jones, etc.)

6. LB Tremaine Edmunds (813+11) >>> LB Devin Bush. Clear upgrade, Edmunds played small, Bush plays big and fast. Teams won't be able to get those easy 5 yards per carry anymore as Bush fills the hole much quicker and can recover better than Edmunds. Edmunds was like a tall tackling dummy.

----------------------------------------------------
KEY CONTRIBUTORS:

7. DT Andrew Billings (511+72) >>> DT Neville Gallimore. Billings was terrible in 2025; almost anyone will be an upgrade here.

8. WR Olamide Zacchaeus (580+2) >>> WR Kalif Raymond. Raymond's familiarity with Johnson's offense and top-notch PR ability make this a really nice depth signing.

9. CB Nick McCloud (436+143) >>> CB Cam Lewis. Just like Billings, anyone replacing McCloud will be an upgrade, besides Kindle Vildor.

10. DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (565+10) >>> (Gordon, Lewis). I think Gordon and Lewis take most of these snaps. They will still add a vet min guy too.

----------------------------------------------------

OTHERS:

11. TE Durham Smythe (293+230) >>>

12. DE Dominique Robinson (215+161) >>>

13. S Jonathan Owens (47+264) >>>

14. WR/KR Devin Duvernay (40+209) >>>

15. DT Chris Williams (219+20) >>> DL Kentavious Street

Duvernay as returner was replaced by Raymond even though you had Raymond listed as OZ replacement. Two birds with one stone approach.

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

Duvernay as returner was replaced by Raymond even though you had Raymond listed as OZ replacement. Two birds with one stone approach.

Yeah that is true, Raymond does replace Duvernay on Punt Returns (I should've added that to Duvernay's comment) but based on offensive snap counts, Raymond was closer to Oz than Duvernay on offense, and Duvernay was more of a Core Special Teamer than Raymond was outside of Punt Return duties. Between Raymond and <insert new WR> will fill all the roles of Oz and Duvernay.

Raymond is a big upgrade over Zacchus last year as far as reliability. He is a better return guy than Duvenay.

On 3/16/2026 at 6:50 AM, adam said:

So the BLUF is, there really aren't huge holes to fill

LT still seems a little unsettled to me. At least for this upcoming season. Saw an article today that said Poles said he sees a competition for the spot between Jones, Benedet and newly acquired Wills. I knew Trapilo was injured but forgot how severe - like most of the season out for the season severe. Of those other three who do you see rising to the call? I’m wary of Wills - reminds me a little of Leatherwood (or whatever his name is), Benedet I get a ‘meh’ feeling about and Jones has a lot of history but I don’t think he’s the long term solution. Do you think they’re hoping Trapilo comes back (because of the four I could see him being the longer term solution).

I thought of Leatherwood and a guy from the Rams a few years back too. Both had been highly picked, didnt pan out and came to the Bears for a fresh start, Neither did anything.

On the plus side, we didnt have Roushar to develop them then, and also these are cheap lottery tickets. He can pay off even if the others didn't.

But I think the lesson here is not to pencil him in as a starter. He's going to have to prove that before anyone can really trust him.

We know what we have with Benedet, so a healthy Braxton Jones and this guy will get a full camp to show. In my opinion Jones isn't gonna be the guy. But benedet is the floor, and anything better is an improvement.

Guys like leatherwood I think just didn’t want to put in the work. Wills is more athletic than him and he at least bet on himself getting healthy and making a comeback. Between our coaching staff and opportunity he couldn’t have chosen a better place to restart his career. Plus he came in on a vet min type deal so he could have gone anywhere. He chose us. I’m curious to see how it plays out.

1 hour ago, AZ54 said:

Guys like leatherwood I think just didn’t want to put in the work. Wills is more athletic than him and he at least bet on himself getting healthy and making a comeback. Between our coaching staff and opportunity he couldn’t have chosen a better place to restart his career. Plus he came in on a vet min type deal so he could have gone anywhere. He chose us. I’m curious to see how it plays out.

Right, they are all unique players and with different coaches etc. There is no pattern that Wills is stuck in. All I'm saying is I'm not getting too far ahead of myself as far as what I think he can do. I saw some atrocious film on him in Cleveland (before his injury), and there's a reason he's a reclamation project. At camp when we see where he's at, and after the benefit of time with Roushar, then I'll see what I think about him. But right now, I'd say the job is Benedet's. Same with Braxton Jones. If I see something new from him, then great, my opinion of him can change, but based on everything I've seen before, I need to see it before I can believe it.

I think it's Benedet and some good competition.

Coming out Wills was the top rated OT prospect that got him picked 10 in that draft. I read his first year he played well but went downhill in later years. No one is counting on him to be the starter but as AZ said it depends on how hard he works and what Rousher can do for him. He has more upside than Theo and Rousher helped him. I think Braxton ends up being the starter, Theo has worked hard but has some limitations. Wills is the wildcard.

To me they are all in play, bc they all have issues. Braxton has the edge if he can play like he practices. He gets fatigued and resorts back to what led to the Bears going to Theo last year. If he gets past that weaknes, it is his job to lose unless Willis or Armagadjie have a wow factor.

5 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

To me they are all in play, bc they all have issues. Braxton has the edge if he can play like he practices. He gets fatigued and resorts back to what led to the Bears going to Theo last year. If he gets past that weaknes, it is his job to lose unless Willis or Armagadjie have a wow factor.

I'm with you. If healthy, Jones is the guy. I think Wills is an interesting reclamation project. Nothing but upside with all of the injuries. Dude was a stud in a past life. Theo is an OG, plain and simple. I believe he has all pro talent at that position. It all depends on health. Get well soon, Ozzy...

2 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I'm with you. If healthy, Jones is the guy. I think Wills is an interesting reclamation project. Nothing but upside with all of the injuries. Dude was a stud in a past life. Theo is an OG, plain and simple. I believe he has all pro talent at that position. It all depends on health. Get well soon, Ozzy...

Why bring Braxton back if they didnt see it. They seen it in practices but game time he resorts back to being lazy when he starts getting fatigued. He is healthy this offseason, so he cam make gains. I think he gets it.

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Why bring Braxton back if they didnt see it. They seen it in practices but game time he resorts back to being lazy when he starts getting fatigued. He is healthy this offseason, so he cam make gains. I think he gets it.

Exactly. They get to see his rehabilitation and how hard he works. His play this year moves him to 20 mil a year or a 4-5 mil a year player. He has lots of motivation. Theo can get better and I hope he does but then getting a third option to add competition should good results.

We talk about everything we need to add to the team to make it better. What about what will improve that is existing.

It should be Caleb's breakout year in the second year in this offense. 4500 yards, 32 TDs ?

The OL took a hit with the Ozzy injury and Dalman retirement. I think Bradbury will transition with no problems at all. He had no sacks and no penalties. I read where he didn't have one bad hike all year, Dalman had several of those. I think someone will step up at LT . Remember their replacing a rookie not a experienced starter.

The running should be better with BJ knowing how to use Monangai and Swift with the offense.

I think Moore will be missed but if Rome and Burden take the next step, it could be a more potent offense. Walker has upside and Raymond may be a big upgrade over Zaccheaus.

One year of Loveland fitting in the offense, he should be a top 5 TE in stats. And Cole is very reliable leader in his spot.

Our defense was bad so it can only get better when everyone is healthy.

Gordon, Terrell Smith and a full year of JJ being healthy is a large leap forward. Cam Lewis is an upgrade over Gardner- Johnson as a cover corner that plays several positions.

We have more speed with Jackson and Bush plus a healthy Edwards. Sanborn will be a more reliable backup than Sewell is.

Booker should be breakout player on defense. Gallimore gives us more speed and a healthy Jarrett, Dayo and Turner can't hurt. We will add two high round picks on the DL.

Safety should add a high draft pick to go along with Bryant and upgrade over Brisker.