Bears players who can’t afford to disappoint in 2026 with their long-term futures less certain than many might think
These Chicago Bears players are under contract for the 2027 season but still have their jobs on the line heading into the 2026 season if they can’t live up to their expectations.
The Chicago Bears are entering into a pivotal season under head coach Ben Johnson and the roster is littered with players who can’t afford to disappoint going into the 2026 season.
Year 1 under Ben Johnson was primarily about setting the culture for the organization and the Bears overachieved by winning 11 games last season. Now, the Bears have a higher bar to achieve and Johnson has a good idea of what kind of players he wants in the building.
That means a few veterans without long-term security after the 2026 season will be under the spotlight this upcoming season, not including the players set to play on expiring contracts (RB D’Andre Swift, DT Gervon Dexter Sr., CB Tyrique Stevenson, etc.). Let’s break down the situation with those individual players.
Chicago Bears players who can’t afford to disappoint in 2026
TE Cole Kmet
The Chicago Bears kicked the can down the road when it comes to the decision on tight end Cole Kmet’s future when the team restructured his contract during the 2026 NFL Draft. That move made even more sense when the Bears drafted Sam Roush in the third-round the following day to give more security to Kmet in 2026. Moving his contract this year is now all but impossible, but moving on in 2027 is even more likely, especially when factoring Colston Loveland and Roush into the equation.
CB Jaylon Johnson
Jaylon Johnson is going into the third year of the four-year, $76 million extension he signed with the team back in 2024. At the time, Johnson’s deal looked like a bargain because he was playing like one of the top cornerbacks in the league. The impression changed last season when Johnson missed 10 games due to injury. Now, Johnson is possibly entering into the final year of that deal since it includes an out after the 2026 season. He’s technically under contract through 2027, but he has no more guarantees remaining after this season. If he fails to regain his status as the top lockdown corner the Bears are paying him to be, Chicago could move on. If he does regain that status, the Bears can start laying out a new deal with its longest-tenured defensive player.
CB Kyler Gordon
A similar situation awaits Kyler Gordon, who’s going into the second year of his three-year, $40 million deal. Like Johnson, Gordon’s status among the coaching staff took a tumble after missing significant time in 2025. Unlike Johnson, Gordon has still been sidelined this offseason with a soft tissue injury and is burning more trust by the day. This is a player that really needs to be back out on the field come training camp and rebuild his image during the 2026 season. If not, the Bears will cut ties on that deal.
DT Grady Jarrett
When the Bears signed veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett right after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, there were a lot of critics about the signing. Those naysayers were proven right when Jarrett put together a disappointing first season in Chicago while being limited for much of the year with a knee injury. Jarrett is a great veteran presence, but not for the salary of $10+ million for the next two years. He will have one last shot to prove that he can stay healthy and be a productive player on the field. If not, the Bears save $13.5 million by moving on next offseason.
DL Dayo Odeyingbo
You’re probably noticing a common theme with these players. Like Johnson, Gordon, and Jarrett, defensive lineman Dayo Odeyingbo is another high-priced defender in Chicago coming off a disappointing, injury-riddled, season. The Bears handed a three-year, $48 million contract to Odeyingbo last offseason and arguably could have moved on this offseason had there been an out in the deal. There will be one next season, so Odeyingbo will have to prove this upcoming season that he can be an impact pass rusher and run defender the Bears expected him to break out and become.