The legal tampering period is hours away from kicking off, which is always the unofficial official start of free agency in the NFL. At noon ET, teams can begin talking to agents and players for the “first time” but within minutes you’ll see agreements start to get announced.

It’s important to note that deals cannot be official until Wednesday, March 11 at the start of the new league year. So, while deals could be announced today, they can still fall through as we’ve seen multiple times over the last few years.

With that being said, here are the Top-5 free agent signings we believe the Chicago Bears will make during the first wave. And be warned, the Bears are going to be making some boring signings despite what people have been hoping for all offseason.

Predicting the Top-5 free agent signings for the Chicago Bears

1. S Kevin Byard III: two-year, $20 million contract

This one basically a guarantee, and frankly I’m shocked the Bears didn’t get this done before the legal tampering period. There’s mutual interest between Chicago and All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III to get a new deal done and it’s the easiest decision for everyone involved. Byard’s last contract with the Bears was a two-year, $16 million deal. After being a back-to-back team captain and coming off one of his best seasons of his career, Byard’s earned a pay raise at $10 million per year.

2. LT Taylor Decker: one-year, $18 million contract

Chicago is in need of a one-year stopgap option at left tackle following Ozzy Trapilo’s injury and it’s rare to find a left tackle on the open market that won’t cost an arm and a leg. The ideal solution was just to bring back 2022 fifth-round pick Braxton Jones to compete for the starting job in 2026, that is, until the Detroit Lions and Taylor Decker parted ways after 10 years. Decker spent three seasons playing for Bears head coach Ben Johnson and can be a reliable veteran to sure up the final position of need on the offensive line. After getting a bargain at center, the Bears can shell out the money needed to bring Decker in on a one-year deal.

3. LB Alex Anzalone: two-year, $13.5 million contract

After releasing Tremaine Edmunds, the Bears are in need of a starting WILL linebacker and Alex Anzalone has been linked multiple times to Chicago by reputable reporters. Anzalone obviously crossed paths with Johnson in Detroit and also played the first four years of his career under Dennis Allen with the New Orleans Saints. Anzalone was the defensive QB for the Lions and can be exactly what the Bears need to lead the position while T.J. Edwards rehabs from a fractured fibula.

4. DL Logan Hall: two-year, $19 million contract

The defensive line group is where the Bears can get into trouble spending at, something the team learned the hard way last offseason with Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett. While it’d be nice to go after Trey Hendrickson, John Franklin-Myers, or Jaelan Phillips, those three players are going to sign for an insane amount of money. Ryan Poles made it sound like injuries ruined all of the team’s hopes on the defensive line in 2025, I doubt he’d spent high dollar without giving those players another chance to prove themselves. So, let’s get a solid young player at a cheaper price in Logan Hall.

Hall has pass rush production inside but the size versatility to play outside in this scheme as well. By signing Hall, you’re banking on the upside, which is what the Bears tried last offseason with Odeyingbo, so there might be some hesitancy doing this. But, it seems like a move Ryan Poles and Dennis Allen would make.

5a. WR Olamide Zaccheaus: one-year, $1.5 million
5b. DB C.J. Gardner-Johnson: one-year, $2 million
5c. LB D’Marco Jackson: two-year, $6 million

I’m cheating a little bit here and combining three re-signings into one. Starting with Olamide Zaccheaus, he’s a player that Johnson had a lot of praise for entering the season and the slot role is wide open with Luther Burden III expected to take over DJ Moore’s role. I’m not concerned about his drop issues as other people are. Johnson likes him, he knows the offense, and he’ll be cheap.

With C.J. Gardner-Johnson, he brought a different kind of fire to the Bears’ defense. Dennis Allen knows how to put him in the best position to succeed and utilize his strength as a blitzer. The Bears also need all the bodies they can get at the safety position.

With Noah Sewell rehabbing from a torn Achilles, the Bears would be wise to bring back D’Marco Jackson, even after signing Anzalone. I’ve been torn on his projected price but believe the Bears can get him back on a deal under $5 million per year. If that’s the case, that’s an easy move to make and doesn’t necessarily rule out drafting another option to develop.

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