Bears Veteran Likely to Leave in Free Agency

Chicago Bears face tough decisions on key free agents this offseason.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

The Chicago Bears are facing a challenging offseason as they have several high-profile free agents, including Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nahshon Wright, D'Marco Jackson, and Braxton Jones. With limited salary cap space, the Bears have already made some tough roster moves, trading away DJ Moore and cutting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, freeing up $44 million. However, the team will still struggle to retain all of their key free agents once the new league year begins.

Why it matters

The Bears are in a difficult position as they try to build a competitive roster for the 2023 season. Retaining their top free agents is crucial, but the team's limited salary cap space means they will likely have to let some valuable players walk in free agency.

The details

The Bears have a number of high-profile free agents this offseason, including defensive backs Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, as well as other key contributors like Nahshon Wright, D'Marco Jackson, and Braxton Jones. With limited salary cap space, the team has already made some tough roster decisions, trading away wide receiver DJ Moore and cutting linebacker Tremaine Edmunds, which freed up $44 million. However, the Bears will still struggle to retain all of their top free agents once the new league year begins.

  • The 2023 NFL free agency period begins on March 15, 2023.

The players

Jaquan Brisker

A defensive back for the Chicago Bears.

Kevin Byard

A defensive back for the Chicago Bears.

C.J. Gardner-Johnson

A defensive back for the Chicago Bears.

Nahshon Wright

A player for the Chicago Bears.

D'Marco Jackson

A player for the Chicago Bears.

Braxton Jones

A player for the Chicago Bears.

DJ Moore

A wide receiver who was traded by the Chicago Bears to the Buffalo Bills.

Tremaine Edmunds

A linebacker who was cut by the Chicago Bears.

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What’s next

The Bears will need to make difficult decisions on which free agents to prioritize and re-sign before the start of the new league year on March 15, 2023.

The takeaway

The Chicago Bears face a challenging offseason as they try to retain their top free agents while navigating a tight salary cap. The team has already made some tough roster moves, but will likely have to let some valuable players walk in free agency as they work to build a competitive roster for the 2023 season.