The first wave of free agency is in the books, and all four teams in the NFC North have begun shaping their rosters for the 2026 season.
Here’s a look at how rosters have changed throughout the division:
CHICAGO
2025 record: 11-6 (division champs)
Top re-signings: DL Daniel Hardy, T Braxton Jones, DB Elijah Hicks, LB D’Marco Jackson, QB Case Keenum, OL Jordan McFadden
Key free-agent additions: C Garrett Bradbury (via trade), S Coby Bryant, LB Devin Bush, WR Kalif Raymond, DT Neville Gallimore, DB Cam Lewis, EDGE Kentavius Street, T Jedrick Wills Jr.
Free-agent losses: S Kevin Byard, CB Nahshon Wright, LB Tremaine Edmunds, WR Olamide Zaccheaus, EDGE Dominique Robinson, DT Chris Williams, TE Durham Smythe
Twentyman’s take: The Bears did a nice job of replacing the retired Drew Dalman by trading for Bradbury, a veteran with seven years of experience and 105 starts under his belt. Bryant and Bush are nice additions to the defense, and Raymond is a sneaky signing that improves Chicago’s depth at receiver and gives head coach Ben Johnson a speedy weapon to deploy on both offense and special teams.
Chicago could still use more talent/depth on defense but there’s still the second and third wave of free agency and next month’s NFL Draft to fill in some of the holes.