{"id":752867,"date":"2026-02-15T01:38:22","date_gmt":"2026-02-15T01:38:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/752867\/"},"modified":"2026-02-15T01:38:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-15T01:38:22","slug":"chicago-bears-predicted-to-sign-bengals-star-defender-in-free-agency","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/752867\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago Bears predicted to sign Bengals star defender in free agency"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears have some key positions to improve upon throughout the offseason, as free agency and the NFL draft get closer. Chicago was able to be the second seed in the NFC, but have limited cap sace at this point, but that could always change with restructuring contracts. The defense was the team\u2019s weakest side of the football, so getting better there would be a massive boost. Let\u2019s take a closer look at who one writer believes will sign with the Bears.<\/p>\n

Greg Auman predicts that the Chicago Bears sign Trey Hendrickson
\n\"CincinnatiCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson (91) celebrates a stop in the fourth quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Saturday, Jan. 4, 2025. The Bengals won 19-17 to finish the regular season at 9-8.<\/p>\n

Fox Sports\u2019 Greg Auman published an article discussing his predictions for the top 100 free agents this offseason and where they will wind up playing next season. He ranked Trey Hendrickson as fourth on the market and had the Bears<\/a> sign him. Below is what he wrote<\/a> about the selection, highlighting it may not be as massive of a deal as others believe:<\/p>\n

\u201cHendrickson, 31, doesn\u2019t have the luster he had a year ago. Instead of coming off back-to-back 17.5-sack seasons and four straight Pro Bowls, he\u2019s now coming off core muscle surgery in December that limited him to four sacks in seven games in 2025. He got a one-year, $29 million deal from the Bengals last year, but isn\u2019t likely to draw as much this time around. ESPN has him as the league\u2019s No. 1 overall free agent, but will he get more than one year guaranteed, and at much more than $20 million a year? He needs 19 sacks to reach 100 for his career and could easily get that in two more healthy seasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hendrickson has been one of the best defenders in the NFL over the last handful of seasons. He is a four-time Pro Bowler and an All-Pro. Last season, he was limited to just seven games with the Cincinnati Bengals and recorded 16 total tackles (11 solo, five assisted) with four sacks, three tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits, one pass deflection, and a forced fumble. This would be a massive boost for the reigning NFC North champs heading into next season.<\/p>\n

\"Chicago<\/p>\n

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