6 returning starters who could be playing their final season in Chicago as the Bears get set to enter a pivotal turning point
The Chicago Bears 2025 season will be a pivotal year for the franchise and a lot of returning players on the roster are on high alert.With the arrival of head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, multiple players will be under the microscope in 2025 to see if they still fit into the […]
The Chicago Bears 2025 season will be a pivotal year for the franchise and a lot of returning players on the roster are on high alert.
With the arrival of head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, multiple players will be under the microscope in 2025 to see if they still fit into the team's short and long-term visions.
Here are six returning starters who could be playing their final year in Chicago with the Bears this upcoming season.
LT Braxton Jones
Let's start with the obvious one. While Ben Johnson and Dan Roushar have spoken highly of Braxton Jones and his fit as the left tackle in this offense, the actions by the front office have shown a different story.
In each of the last two drafts, the Bears selected an offensive tackle in the first three rounds. During the 2024 NFL Draft, the Bears selected Kiran Amegadjie and in April the team double-down at tackle by selecting Ozzy Trapilo.
Once training camp opens in late July, Amegadjie and Trapilo will be competing with Jones for the starting job. It's a grim fate for a player looking to return from a fractured fibula while entering into the final year of his rookie contract.
S Jaquan Brisker
The case for Jaquan Brisker is similar, but different. Like Jones, Brisker is entering into the final year of his contract coming off a season-ending injury. The difference for Brisker is that the Bears have yet to add true long-term competition at the position.
As it stands, Brisker has a solid shot to receive a second contract with the Bears saying he can stay on the field and perform at the same level he's used to playing at.
Ideally, the Bears would like to keep him around. Brisker brings a lot of fire and energy to the entire defense, but it's on Brisker and his health to earn his long-term security.
S Kevin Byard
Sticking with the same position, the situation for Kevin Byard is a lot more clear and the ball is in the team's court, not the player's.
The veteran safety understands he's in the final years of his career, but played some of his best ball in 2024, his first season in Chicago. He quickly became a leader for this team and for the defense, but his days are numbered.
While speaking with the media earlier this offseason, Byard noted he's fine with playing on one-year deals as long as he can still produce as a starter. So, it's on the coaching staff and front office to decide whether or not Byard can stick around after 2025.
LB Tremaine Edmunds
This is where things start to get interesting. Tremaine Edmunds is technically under contract beyond the 2025 season but the Bears do have an out on the hefty contract after this season. Edmunds currently has the seventh-highest cap hit on the team for 2026 but his cap hit would only be just over $2.4 million if he's cut.
Through two years in Chicago, Edmunds has been a disappointment given the price tag and the impact T.J. Edwards has provided at a much lower cost.
The selection of rookie Ruben Hyppolite II and the recent extension for Edwards shows who the staff values at the position. A strong 2025 season could change things but for the time being, keep an eye on Edmunds being a cap casualty next offseason.
RB D'Andre Swift
The easiest out for a contract is with D'Andre Swift, the same player Ben Johnson moved on from after one year with the Detroit Lions.
This one is totally performance based. If Swift fails to live up to expectations for a second year in a row, the Bears can cut their losses and find a new starting running back to operate Ben Johnson's offense. Swift's dead cap number drops from just over $10 million in 2025 to just over $1.3 million in 2026.
And no, I don't think that would be anyone currently on the roster. If Swift's gone after 2025, the Bears will be looking to draft a top prospect or explore another free agent.
TE Cole Kmet
A similar situation awaits Cole Kmet. Although the Bears have high hopes for the potential 12 personnel this coming season.
Kmet is one of the longest tenured players on the roster and at 26-years-old still has some high quality years ahead of him in the NFL. He signed a four-year, $50 million deal in 2023, so he still has two years remaining after 2025. However, his dead cap drops from $14.7 million to $3.2 million after this season.
The concern with Kmet is that the Bears used the 10th overall pick to select a younger and more explosive tight end in Colston Loveland. While it's true the two can coexist for multiple seasons, there is an out if the 2-TE dreams don't return on the hype.
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