2026 Chicago Bears Offseason Thread

[BigbadB]

The Dahlman retirement announcement only adds about 10m in cap space. 

[gflore34]

I'm confident Johnson and company will find viable solutions to both LT and C.  Strange feeling for a Bears fan.

[Tryptamine]

Don't like hearing from someone with team that the Bears don't have the resources to address left tackle. Really sounds like we're gonna have to hope that Benedet steps it up.

[Thurman Merman]

5 minutes ago, Tryptamine said:

Don't like hearing from someone with team that the Bears don't have the resources to address left tackle. Really sounds like we're gonna have to hope that Benedet steps it up.

I don't remember who suggested it, but if they think braxton is going to be healthy, a 1 year prove it contract to help him reset his market and to get the bears another year to develop a rookie/wait for trapillo almost makes too much sense.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

DJ Moore to the Bills
 

 

Edited March 5 by Bobson Dugnutt

[UMFan83]

4 minutes ago, Bobson Dugnutt said:

DJ Moore to the Bills

Makes sense...mid round pick so hopefully Bills are picking up a majority of the money.  Bears trying to clear salary space, he's the highest priced guy at a position we have a surplus, and he had a down year last year and was invisible for entire games.  That said, he had some of the biggest catches of the season and it sucks to see him go.

My son is going to be devastated, the bomb against GB was the moment that his Bears fandom fully clicked and he LOVES DJ Moore...begged me to buy his jersey and it took a lot of convincing to get him to choose another Bear (Loveland lol)

Bears will probably need a FA veteran WR at this point...Caleb and Keenan Allen had solid chemistry at the end of 2024 and will allow Burden and Rome to stretch the field with him as a safety valve.  Just a thought..

[Banedon]

Sure feels like Crosby is unlikely then.

[bukie]

Thanks for the effort in the OT game winner against GB.

Wish that same effort was brought in OT against the Rams.

[MidoreX]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Makes sense...mid round pick so hopefully Bills are picking up a majority of the money.  Bears trying to clear salary space, he's the highest priced guy at a position we have a surplus, and he had a down year last year and was invisible for entire games.  That said, he had some of the biggest catches of the season and it sucks to see him go.

My son is going to be devastated, the bomb against GB was the moment that his Bears fandom fully clicked and he LOVES DJ Moore...begged me to buy his jersey and it took a lot of convincing to get him to choose another Bear (Loveland lol)

Bears will probably need a FA veteran WR at this point...Caleb and Keenan Allen had solid chemistry at the end of 2024 and will allow Burden and Rome to stretch the field with him as a safety valve.  Just a thought..

I'd guess we add a burner/gadget WR, and Jahdae Walker will get a legit chance to win a spot in training camp.

Really sad to see DJ go, but I get it. 

 

[UMFan83]

3 minutes ago, Banedon said:

Sure feels like Crosby is unlikely then.

Why?  I haven't seen how much the Bills are taking on in terms of salary but this likely helps clear up the salary issue.  The Raiders likely didnt want to take on Moore's contract, so we found another suitor.  We'll see.

[SpongeWorthy]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Why?  I haven't seen how much the Bills are taking on in terms of salary but this likely helps clear up the salary issue.  The Raiders likely didnt want to take on Moore's contract, so we found another suitor.  We'll see.

I’d rather spend on center and LT

[NorthsideAvenger]

At least the Bears did Moore a solid by sending him to a contender and playing with a QB like Josh Allen.

[Banedon]

4 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

Why?  I haven't seen how much the Bills are taking on in terms of salary but this likely helps clear up the salary issue.  The Raiders likely didnt want to take on Moore's contract, so we found another suitor.  We'll see.

The Raiders asking price (whether or not you believe the picks they're asking for) has always included a player, so for me, DJ made a ton of sense there.  It's not impossible or anything, it just doesn't feel like it fits quite as well as it did when DJ was a possible trade piece.

[BigSlick]

It's sad to see DJ go, but its a move that makes football sense. I'm still so gutted by the Dalman retirement... it's not a backbreaker but man it makes taking another clear step forward in 2026 so much more difficult. 

This'll be a real gut test offseason for Ben Johnson and co. I have full confidence in him. 

[UMFan83]

Just now, SpongeWorthy said:

I’d rather spend on center and LT

I think you spend on one of those positions and address the other in the draft.  If we don't leave the offseason without a pro bowl caliber Edge I'll be disappointed.  Our OL was a huge plus for us last year and I would obviously like to keep that but our DL was our biggest weakness.  Has to be addressed.

Just sucks, if Ozzy didnt get hurt and Dalman didn't retire we're locked in there.  Ozzy's injury is bad enough that we can't even look for a stopgap at LT, we need to think long term because we can't assume he will ever be healthy enough to play at a high level again.

[Outshined_One]

3 minutes ago, SpongeWorthy said:

I’d rather spend on center and LT

That's actually how I read this move.  Assuming this trade clears DJ's salary, it opens the door for them to spend on a Center.

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, Banedon said:

The Raiders asking price (whether or not you believe the picks they're asking for) has always included a player, so for me, DJ made a ton of sense there.  It's not impossible or anything, it just doesn't feel like it fits quite as well as it did when DJ was a possible trade piece.

It's possible they didn't want Moore and/or his salary.  I think a lot of the speculation about the player added was somewhat due to needing to shed salary in the deal.  That said the Bears didn't really get draft picks that would make the offer significantly more attractive without a player.  Who knows, we'll see how it plays out.

[UMFan83]

Just now, Outshined_One said:

That's actually how I read this move.  Assuming this trade clears DJ's salary, it opens the door for them to spend on a Center.

They haven't even restructured any contracts yet. I would assume restructures plus Dalman's salary off the books would have allowed them to spend on a center.  

[Old Style]

3 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

They haven't even restructured any contracts yet. I would assume restructures plus Dalman's salary off the books would have allowed them to spend on a center.  

Dalman still carries a dead cap hit. 

[UMFan83]

Just now, Old Style said:

Dalman still carries a dead cap hit. 

Sorry 'off the books' was the wrong term....they still saved money with him retiring

[WrigleyField 22]

Bittersweet, but this makes too much sense. And Im glad he gets to go to a playoff team and not like the Raiders. 

 

Massive amounts of cap flexibility (albeit they lost 34 starts from 2025 roster in the past 48 hours). No cap liabilities on roster past 2028. Less than 35M of guarantees on the books past 2026 (including an upcoming vesting guarantee on Gordon) 

[WrigleyField 22]

6 minutes ago, Old Style said:

Dalman still carries a dead cap hit. 

But dead cap doesn't matter

[MidoreX]

12 minutes ago, UMFan83 said:

They haven't even restructured any contracts yet. I would assume restructures plus Dalman's salary off the books would have allowed them to spend on a center.  

Agreed. Still have the assumed trade/cut of Edmunds before any restructures as well, with a bunch of big money able to be easily cut after next year as well (Dayo being the easiest call, unless he turns it around).

Not all of Poles's moves have worked out, but our books are pretty clean for the years Caleb starts to get REALLY expensive... Just need to make smart decisions on who else we give big contracts to going forward. 

Darnell Wright seems like an easy call, and adding a big contract at C to get the best of the best would anchor the line for the next 4/5 years

Edited March 5 by MidoreX

[MidoreX]

[UMFan83]

2 minutes ago, MidoreX said:

Now that is something that would likely interest the Raiders if thats the route they go

Really wish they had those comp picks...not as trade bait but additional resources that would help us overcome the potential loss of draft picks in a trade.

Edited March 5 by UMFan83