Bargain bin signings the Bears can make on Day 3 of free agency to continue bolstering the depth on both sides of the ball

The Chicago Bears aren’t expected to make anymore big signings and instead are churring the bin for depth pieces.

Kole Noble — Chicago Bears News Writer
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Nov 2, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks (22) celebrates during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium.
Chicago Bears safety Elijah Hicks (22) celebrates during the second quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bears have essentially exhausted all of their available cap space after the first day of the legal tampering period and spent the majority of Day 2 adding depth pieces in WR Kalif Raymond, DB Cam Lewis, and DL Kentavius Street.

Retooling the depth at various positions is important and that’s something the team will continue to do on Day 3, barring any major restructures that could open up another splash signing.

I’m still holding out hope the market continues to drop for All Pro safety Kevin Byard III, allowing the front office to reconsider bringing him back. Until then, here are some more bargain bin targets the Bears should watch to bolster the depth on both sides of the ball.

TE Durham Smythe

Durham Smythe was one of the first free agents that head coach Ben Johnson brought to Chicago last offseason. Smythe and Johnson overlapped together with the Miami Dolphins and Johnson’s multi-TE system had a need for that kind of veteran player. Even behind Cole Kmet and first-round pick Colston Loveland, Smythe went on to play 293 offensive snaps for the Bears, mostly as a run blocker. A couple of people wondered whether the Bears would be in on Johnny Mundt to take over that role as the blocking tight end, but he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles on Tuesday night. Smythe is still out there, and a re-signing would be pretty cheap.

S Elijah Hicks

So far, the Bears have only made one addition to the safety room in Coby Bryant, who will take over one of the two starting positions with the other expected to be filled with a top rookie. The signing of Cam Lewis gave the team depth at nickel, but depth at safety is still needed. Elijah Hicks is one Brad Biggs brought up on Tuesday as a name to watch. Hicks was a seventh-round pick in the first draft under general manager Ryan Poles and has played 61 games for the team in four seasons.

RB Raheem Mostert

The Bears could use another back behind D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Travis Homer is an option, and one of the trusted players of special teams coordinator Richard Hightower. A name I’d love to see get added is Raheem Mostert. At 33-years-old, Mostert is long past his prime but this is still the player that had 1,000 yards and led the NFL with 18 rushing TDs in 2023 while playing for the Miami Dolphins under RBs coach Eric Studesville, who’s now with Chicago. Mostert had blazing fast speed in this prime and would be worth bringing in to see what he’s got left in the tank.

RB Keaton Mitchell

Another fun running back option that can bring speed to the offense is Keaton Mitchell. He has some notable injury history throughout his first three seasons in the NFL but is the kind of back that would excel in this kind of run scheme. Last year, he had 3.34 yards after contact per attempt, which would have been higher than Swift (2.93) and Monangai (2.89). For context of Mostert, his yards after contact per attempt was 3.59 last season with the Las Vegas Raiders. I’d adding consider either back.

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