3 Sneaky Good NFL Free Agents Bears Must Sign in 2026 Offseason

Bears have quite a bit of salary-cap work to do and that includes cutting players and bringing in key free agents

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The Chicago Bears finally had the kind of success in 2025 that the team had been hoping to have for years. However, the Bears are now over the salary cap and will need to make some tough roster decisions, including parting ways with high-priced players like wide receiver D.J. Moore. To replace Moore, the Bears could target free agent Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts, who has emerged as a top deep threat. The Bears will also need to find a new starting cornerback after Jaylon Johnson's injury-plagued season, and could pursue Tariq Woolen of the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. At safety, the Bears may need to move on from Kevin Byard and could look to sign Bryan Cook of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Why it matters

The Bears are no longer in an advantageous salary cap position and will need to make difficult roster decisions this offseason. Replacing high-priced veterans with cheaper free agent options will be crucial for the Bears to remain competitive in the NFC North.

The details

The Bears are more than $5 million over the salary cap this year and will need to part ways with some high-priced players like wide receiver D.J. Moore, who is set to make just under $24 million per season over the next 4 years. To replace Moore, the Bears could target free agent Alec Pierce of the Indianapolis Colts, who has emerged as a top deep threat. At cornerback, the Bears will need to find a replacement for the injured Jaylon Johnson, and could pursue Tariq Woolen of the Seattle Seahawks. At safety, the Bears may need to move on from Kevin Byard and could look to sign Bryan Cook of the Kansas City Chiefs.

  • The Bears went from worst to first in the NFC North in 2025.
  • The Bears beat the rival Green Bay Packers 2 out of 3 times in 2025, including once in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
  • The Bears are more than $5 million over the salary cap for the 2026 season, according to OverTheCap.com.

The players

D.J. Moore

The Bears' primary go-to receiver since being acquired from the Carolina Panthers in a 2023 trade. After catching 96 and 98 passes in 2023 and '24 respectively, his numbers went down considerably in '25, catching 50-682-6.

Alec Pierce

A second-round pick out of Cincinnati in 2022, Pierce has proven to be an excellent big-play receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, leading the league in yards per reception in each of the last two seasons.

Jaylon Johnson

The Bears' starting cornerback, who had an injury-plagued season in 2025, playing in just 7 games. He is scheduled to have a base salary of more than $15 million and a cap hit of $25 million in 2026.

Tariq Woolen

A dynamic cover cornerback for the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, Woolen is 6-4 and 210 pounds, meaning he can cover the biggest and most athletic receivers in the league.

Kevin Byard

The Bears' starting safety last season, who intercepted a league-leading 7 passes. Byard has had a brilliant career and is likely to be far too expensive for the Bears to retain.

Bryan Cook

A 26-year-old safety for the Kansas City Chiefs, Cook is a big hitter in the secondary who had 85 tackles and 6 passes defensed last season.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

What’s next

The Bears will need to make multiple roster moves to become salary-cap compliant, including cutting high-priced players like D.J. Moore and Jaylon Johnson. They will then need to replace those players with more affordable free agent options like Alec Pierce, Tariq Woolen, and Bryan Cook.

The takeaway

The Bears' offseason will be defined by tough salary cap decisions, as they look to build on their 2025 success while remaining competitive in the NFC North. Replacing high-priced veterans with talented, lower-cost free agents will be crucial for the Bears to maintain their winning ways.