Getty
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 18: Jordan Whittington #88 of the Los Angeles Rams runs with the ball against C.J. Gardner-Johnson #35 of the Chicago Bears after his reception in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Soldier Field on January 18, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Despite improvement in all three phases of the game, the Chicago Bears still left much to be desired.
On offense, the Bears are hoping quarterback Caleb Williams will take yet another step forward, whilst on defense Chicago will hope to improve upon their 29th ranked total defense in 2025, despite some solid work having been made by new defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen.
However, forward motion could end up being stifled by the team’s lack of salary cap flexibility this coming season. At present moment, the Bears are set to lie almost $11 million over the cap heading into the offseason, and as such may not be able to re-sign all the players they desire, even though almost all of their starters are contracted through at least 2026.
One player that could end having to find a new home, according to Fox Sports’ Greg Auman, is defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson. Gardner-Johnson was signed as a free agent mid-season after an injury to Kyler Gordon landed him on short-term injured reserve, and somewhat impressed throughout his half-season stint on the team.
Bears Defensive Back Predicted to Exit in Free Agency
“Gardner-Johnson, 28, is such a mixed bag, with six picks each in 2022 and 2024 in Super Bowl seasons with the Eagles, but he bounced from the Texans to the Bears last year, with two picks, three sacks and inconsistent play.” Auman wrote.
“Giving him a valuation is difficult — is he the guy who got $9 million a year not that long ago, or the one who was cut in-season and took a league-minimum deal with the Bears? Pairing him with the right coach to get him focused and playing at a high level again is a gamble that could still pay off.”
Instead of re-upping with Chicago, Auman instead predicts that Gardner-Johnson will land with the New York Giants, who desperately need help on the back-end of their defense.
Should the Bears Look to Re-Sign Gardner-Johnson?
As Auman notes, there is no straightforward answer to whether it makes sense for Chicago to keep or move on from Gardner-Johnson this offseason.
Ostensibly, the specific need for Gardner-Johnson in the nickel role is diminished with the return of Kyler Gordon from injury.
But the team is also set to lose two starting members of their secondary from this past season: safety Jaquan Brisker and outside cornerback Nahshon Wright, who surprised many with excellent play this past year after being flung into a unexpected starting role to start the year in place of the previously injured Jaylon Johnson.
If the price point makes more sense than Brisker’s, it could behoove Chicago to retain the former Super Bowl champion with the Philadelphia Eagles, as a starting-quality, high-upside safety on a cheap deal.
Yet, if some other team decides to pull out the big, or big-ish bucks for Gardner-Johnson, expect the Bears to bow out.
Daniel Arwas Daniel Arwas is a sports writer who covers the NFL for Heavy.com. Daniel began his career in sports writing in 2022 and has covered the NFL and college football for Gridiron Heroics and The Hammer. More about Daniel Arwas
More Heavy on Bears
Loading more stories