{"id":818162,"date":"2026-03-18T01:02:23","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T01:02:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/818162\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T01:02:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T01:02:23","slug":"frustration-grows-after-chicago-bears-nfl-free-agency-announcement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/818162\/","title":{"rendered":"Frustration grows after Chicago Bears NFL free agency announcement"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Chicago Bears have been busy reshaping their roster this offseason. General manager Ryan Poles added key pieces on both sides of the ball, trading for center Garrett Bradbury and signing safety Coby Bryant.<\/p>\n

The Bears also signed linebacker Devin Bush and defensive tackle Neville Gallimore. Fan favorite Case Keenum also returned<\/a>.<\/p>\n

But the moves came at a cost. Poles traded wide receiver D.J. Moore to the Buffalo Bills, drawing immediate public backlash. Chicago\u2019s secondary also took a significant hit, losing Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nahshon Wright and Jonathan Owens.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Now, the Bears are facing more criticism after announcing another roster move that didn\u2019t sit well with the fan base.<\/p>\n

\"ChicagoChicago Bears offensive tackle Braxton Jones (70) after the game against the Dallas Cowboys.
\nNFL: Chicago Bears\u2019 re-signing of Braxton Jones draws criticism<\/p>\n

The Bears officially re-signed<\/a> offensive tackle Braxton Jones on Friday. Chicago brought him back on a one-year, $5 million contract, with another $5 million in incentives available.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The team shared a photo of the signing on their Instagram page with the caption: \u201cFresh ink \u270d\ufe0f\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The announcement didn\u2019t land the way the front office may have hoped. Fans made their frustrations clear in the comments.\u00a0<\/p>\n

One user dropped a gif with the message \u201cTHE BEARS STILL SUCK.\u201d Another wrote, \u201cWe could\u2019ve signed Brisker and Byard instead of this bust.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

One commenter simply said, \u201cI miss DJ already.\u201d Others piled on. \u201cWe wanted Brisker bro,\u201d one fan wrote.<\/p>\n

A separate commenter added, \u201cBro what are we doing.\u201d One user also noted, \u201cWith all these re-signings we could\u2019ve got Crosby, ya know.\u201d<\/p>\n

The frustration stems from Jones\u2019 recent track record. Chicago selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He started 44 games over his first four seasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In 2025, he fell out of the starting rotation in favor of Theo Benedet. He played just six games with four starts and posted a 55.5 PFF grade on 210 snaps. A knee injury later landed him on injured reserve.<\/p>\n

Bears fans aren\u2019t wrong to expect more. Chicago went 11-6 in 2025 and won the NFC North title for the first time in seven years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

With expectations rising heading into 2026, Jones faces pressure to recapture the form that once made him a reliable starter.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"Chicago<\/p>\n

Chicago Bears reveal DJ Moore\u2019s actions after trade to Buffalo Bills
\n Read More<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\tFor More Great Chicago Sports Content<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Get the latest Chicago sports news, analysis, and breaking stories on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs, White Sox, Sky, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News<\/a>, so you never miss a story on your favorite Chicago teams.<\/p>\n

Follow us on Twitter at @chicitysports23<\/a> for more great content. We appreciate you taking time to read our articles. To interact more with our community and keep up to date on the latest in Chicago sports news, JOIN OUR FREE FACEBOOK GROUP by CLICKING HERE <\/a><\/p>\n