Former NFC North rivals just handed the Bears a golden opportunity to add an impact pass rusher before free agency even opens
Add Bradley Chubb to the list of potential free agent targets for the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears have some glaring needs on the defensive line going into the offseason but how aggressive the team plans to be addressing those areas remains to be seen and will show how willing the Bears are to go all in on a Super Bowl push.
The overwhelming option for the Bears, among the fans, is swinging big on an impact pass rusher such as Maxx Crosby or Trey Hendrickson. Such a move would be a massive splash, but one that would come with obvious long-term consequences.
Most Bears reporters are expecting the team to have a quieter approach this year after making some bad free agent signings last year. The most logical move for Chicago is acquiring a cheaper veteran off the edge and then complementing the defensive line in the draft. And a golden opportunity to add a cheaper impact pass rusher in free agency just presented itself.
Miami Dolphins release 2x Pro Bowl pass rusher Bradley Chubb ahead of free agency
The Miami Dolphins had an organizational shakeup this offseason after bringing in two members of the Green Bay Packers to run the ship in general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan and head coach Jeff Hafley. The duo just made their first major decision of the offseason by releasing pass rusher Bradley Chubb, a move that frees up $7.3M in cap space while taking on $23.8M in dead money.
After restructures by the previous regime, Chubb was expected to have a $31.2M cap number for 2026, so this was an obvious decision everyone saw coming this offseason. And now Chubb is set to hit the open market coming off an 8.5 sack season. The best part, teams wouldn’t have to wait for free agency to sign him after being released.
Chubb was a trade candidate ahead of last season’s deadline but no team made any push to acquire him, and his former contract was a big reason why. Now teams can fight over him on the open market at a discounted rate and the Chicago Bears should be one of the interested parties.
Lining up Chubb opposite Montez Sweat would give Chicago two impact pass rushers off the edge while having Austin Booker, Dayo Odeyingbo, and Shemar Turner rotating in behind them.
This is the kind of move the Bears should be looking to make to add more of an impact off the edge and two former division rivals just made it possible.
Chicago Bears News
Bears Mock Offseason: Restructures, extensions, trades, free agent signing predictions, and mock draft
First crack at predicting Ben Johnson’s plan of attack going into Year 2 with the Chicago Bears.
