The 2026 offseason is in full swing, and it’s another important one for the Chicago Bears, who are looking to get back to the postseason in head coach Ben Johnson’s second season.

General manager Ryan Poles has some work to do to shore up key needs on the roster. After overhauling the offensive line last offseason, the focus shifts to the defensive line, which is the biggest concern, as well as safety and left tackle. But there’s some work to be done with the salary cap before the start of the new league year as Chicago is currently a projected $4.11 million over the cap. After three straight years of top-10 picks, the Bears will have to wait to pick in the latter part of the first round (No. 25) in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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Here at Bears Wire, we’re going position by position to break down where Chicago stands entering the 2026 offseason. First up is quarterback, where Caleb Williams has solidified himself as the franchise quarterback after a breakout 2025 season, and Tyson Bagent brings solid depth as his backup QB.

Who’s on the roster?

Caleb Williams had a breakout season in his first year with head coach Ben Johnson, who maximized his potential in just one season. While Williams still has plenty of improvement to make, he made huge strides as a passer leading a top-five offense in the league. The stats won’t tell the whole story, most notably his 58.1 completion percentage, but Williams showcased incredible potential and established himself as one of the most clutch quarterbacks in the NFL with his record seven fourth-quarter comebacks. Williams also set a franchise record for most passing yards in a single season, surpassing Erik Kramer’s record from 1995, and he fell just short of becoming the franchise’s first 4,000-yard passer. After being sacked a league-high 68 times during his rookie season, Williams was sacked just 25 times (an NFL best) in Year 2, and he played a big role in those sacks coming down with his Houdini-esque escapability. Williams was far from perfect this season, but he certainly looks the part of a franchise quarterback.

For the second straight season, the Bears didn’t have to turn to backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, which speaks to Williams’ durability. Bagent played just 14 snaps, in relief of Williams, during the 2025 season. But it’s certainly important to have a solid backup quarterback as we’ve seen how quickly things can change in the NFL. Which is why Chicago signed Bagent to a two-year, $10 million contract extension before the start of the season to lock down their QB2. Bagent has also earned praise and trust from Ben Johnson, who believes Bagent could be a starter elsewhere, which speaks volumes.

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Who’s slated to hit free agency?

The Bears signed veteran journeyman Case Keenum to a one-year deal last offseason to serve as a sounding board and an extension of the coaching staff for second-year quarterback Caleb Williams. Keenum never saw the field in the regular season, which is a good thing, but Chicago did carry him on the 53-man roster given they didn’t want to lose him and his importance as a coach for Williams. Keenum is set to hit free agency, where you have to wonder if the Bears lock him down to another one-year, affordable deal as Williams heads into his third season and second with Ben Johnson.

Who might join the Bears?

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Chicago bring back Keenum on another one-year deal to serve as another coach for Williams in his third season. The Bears carried three quarterbacks on the roster last season, where Keenum never saw the field but proved to be a valuable asset to Williams. But if Chicago elected to move on from Keenum, they’d likely look to bring another veteran in the mix with two young QBs in Williams and Bagent leading the charge. Some notable veteran free agent quarterbacks include Russell Wilson, Jimmy Garoppolo, Joe Flacco, Daniel Jones, Malik Willis, Tyrod Taylor, Tyler Huntley, Marcus Mariota, Mitchell Trubisky and Aaron Rodgers.

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Position need: Low

It’s a great thing when quarterback isn’t a need for the Bears, and that has everything to do with Caleb Williams’ emergence during his second season. Williams established himself as one of the most electrifying and clutch players in the NFL, where he set a franchise single-season passing record and NFL record for seven fourth-quarter comebacks in a single season. While Williams still has some things to clean up, including in the short passing game, he showed his incredible potential in this Ben Johnson offense, and the best is yet to come. Meanwhile, having a solid backup quarterback is important. While Chicago hasn’t had to rely on Tyson Bagent since Williams came to town, the Bears have a reliable backup quarterback who also has the trust of his head coach. Sure, bringing back Case Keenum to serve as a continued mentor would be great. But even if they don’t, Chicago is well off at the quarterback position. When’s the last time you could say that?

This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: Bears 2026 offseason preview: Where Chicago stands at quarterback