Bears need big offseason in free agency, NFL Draft to make a playoff run next season
Draft preparation is well underway with the Senior Bowl this week and the NFL Scouting Combine coming up, but free agency comes first in March.
MOBILE, Ala. — Bears general manager Ryan Poles moved cautiously through his first three offseasons, wary of spending the team right back into the salary-cap mess he was hired to clean up. He talked frequently about wanting his rebuild to be “sustainable,” and while he did add talent through free agency, it was always with an eye on the books.
He signed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds in 2023 for $72 million over four years, for example, but that was instead of the five-year, $100 million deal Roquan Smith wanted. When he picked up wide receiver Keenan Allen in a trade with the Chargers last year, all it cost him was a fourth-round pick, and the Bears were so far under the cap that the one year left on his contract at $23.1 million was harmless.
It’s time to pick up the pace, however, after the slow and steady way produced a 5-12 record this season and the plan backfired so badly that president Kevin Warren felt it necessary to speak up about Poles’ job security.
3 Lions Who Could Leave Detroit to Follow Ben Johnson
Immediately after their disappointing playoff loss to the Washington Commanders, the Detroit Lions saw offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn get head coaching jobs.
Glenn is the new head coach of the New York Jets, while Johnson will stay in the NFC North and coach the Chicago Bears. The Lions won’t see Glenn and the Jets next season, but they will see Johnson twice.
However, before the Lions and Bears face off next season, Detroit must worry about some free agents potentially leaving the Motor City in the offseason.
A few unrestricted free agents will go to New York with Glenn, while others will join Johnson in the Windy City. Since Johnson is more of an offensive guy, the Lions could lose a couple of key players that helped them win 15 games during the regular season and clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Below, we’ll discuss three players who could depart Detroit and join Johnson in Chicago when the new league year begins in March.
1. Teddy Bridgewater, QB
The Bears do not need another quarterback on their roster. Heading into next season, they already have Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Austin Reed (reserve/future deal).
However, with Johnson bringing his offensive scheme from Detroit to Chicago, it might not be a bad idea to see if Teddy Bridgewater wants to play for one more season. The 32-year-old QB re-signed with the Lions in December after serving as a high school football coach at his alma mater (Miami Northwestern) and leading them to a state title.
Bridgewater didn’t see much time in the last few weeks of the regular season but made a brief appearance in the Divisional Round game against the Commanders. The veteran QB came in for starting QB Jared Goff, who was banged up after throwing a pick-six.
Bridgewater hasn’t revealed his plans for the 2025 season. However, having a veteran in the locker room to help out Williams and Bagent wouldn’t be a bad idea.
