Bears coach Ben Johnson may have put GM Ryan Poles at a bit of a disadvantage already for free agency negotiations.

Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen may have, as well.

The Bears coaches already offered up high praise for two players in line to receive contract extensions well in advance of any deadline.

One of those players was slot cornerback Kyler Gordon.

“Secondary wise, I think Gordon’s a phenomenal nickel,” Johnson said.

Allen did little to downplay Gordon’s importance.

“Kyler Gordon, is an outstanding nickel player,” he said. “I have a vision for how we can utilize him.”

The other was injured defensive tackle Andrew Billings, whose healing pectoral injury should allow him to participate at some point in offseason work, according to what Poles said.

Johnson saw the Bears defense twice without Billings after his injury.

“This year what was a little different than 2023 was Billings being out,” Johnson said. “Him being out, we could feel that when we played Chicago.”

Billings’ impact was palpable, as former Bears defensive coordinator Sean Desai liked to say.

These two players are in a different line of free agents than those whose fate must be addressed before the March 12 deadline.

“We have a couple guys that definitely will be up for some type of extension this offseason,” Poles said.

What isn’t clear is whether Poles was talking about these two or maybe the two main players in this free agency. The value of those they need to slot money for this year to extend before 2026 is undeniable.

Billings and Gordon are in the 2026 free agent line and not the line forming for March, but this is how the GM needs to approach this and any free agency. It is basically a two-year situation for planning out the cap and not one. With a new coaching staff in place, Poles is able to do this as they’ll know who Johnson deems a priority.

The main players for retention in a month get addressed immediately, but decisions and planning extenions for players whose contracts still have a year left will rate higher for Poles getting depth pieces signed for 2025 at a veteran’s minimum NFL wage.

Gordon and Billings are vital parts of the Bears defense and will be for the 2025 season regardless. The Bears would like to know both are locked up beyond 2025.

There is a third free agent for 2026 not specifically mentioned, but no one would question if linebacker T.J. Edwards deserves an extension at some point this season to keep him out of 2026 free agency. In two seasons, his tackles totals and overall disruption have made his three-year, $19.5 million Bears deal look like a steal.

The same is true for Billings, who just received a two-year Bears extension after the 2023 trade deadline for $8.5 million. That money seems a pittance considering how the Bears looked without Billings this season.

They led the league in run defense in 2023 and were fourth against the run in 2024 after the Hail Mary pass loss to Washington, but Billings suffered his injury the next week against Arizona. The Bears were trampled for 213 yards rushing in that game, the key play being a 53-yard touchdown run allowed just before halftime when Billings was off the field while a pass rushing personnel package was on.

They allowed 114 yards or more rushing in eight of the next nine games and finished 28th against the run at 2,317 rushing yards allowed, a yard worse than the Giants.

This alone gives Billings plenty of fuel for the negotiating fire when they do an extension.

The potential Gordon extension doesn’t have the same dramatic statistical support but his pure athleticism and ability for disruption seem obvious every game.