Bears’ linebacker signings in free agency point toward a comforting sign for Dennis Allen and the team’s future at the position
Devin Bush and D’Marco Jackson will be a solid duo in coverage for the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears have been busy on the first day of free agency by adding pieces to the defense in defensive tackle Neville Gallimore, safety Coby Bryant, and linebacker Devin Bush as the expected signings that have been reported so far.
All three players bring speed to the defense, at all three levels. It’s something general manager Ryan Poles stated the team will look for while speaking with reporters at the NFL Combine and he’s been delivering on that goal so far.
When it comes to Bryant and Bush, how they compare to their predecessors will be key. Bryant is replacing an All Pro player in Kevin Byard III and Bush is replacing a Pro Bowl caliber player in Tremaine Edmunds. The signing of Bush fascinates me and what he looks like playing alongside D’Marco Jackson and T.J. Edwards could be really promising.
Bears now employ the top two coverage linebackers from the 2025 season, per PFF
With the signings of Bush and Jackson, the Bears now have the top two coverage linebackers from the 2025 season, at least according to Pro Football Focus.
Bush’s 69.3 passer rating allowed ranked second and Jackson’s 68.9 passer rating allowed ranked first among linebackers with 140+ coverage snaps. Jackson played 183 coverage snaps compared to the 403 Bush played, but that’s still promising numbers for this new duo in Chicago.
With T.J. Edwards rehabbing from a fractured fibula he suffered in the playoffs, Bush and Jackson will be the team’s top two players at the position throughout the majority of the offseason. And Jackson’s new contract signals he will be relied upon more than he was last season as the LB3.
The difference going from Edmunds to Bush in terms of coverage will be massive. While Edmunds had four interceptions, he also allowed four touchdowns and 530 yards in coverage. Bush, meanwhile, had three interceptions with one touchdown and 247 yards allowed, plus two touchdowns. His speed will bring a major difference to the second level for the Bears defense. And you can now pair him with Jackson, who allowed one touchdown and 93 yards in coverage.
With Bush and Jackson locked up, I feel a lot stronger about the Bears linebacker core going into the 2026 season and hopefully Edwards can have a timely rehab and return to form by the start of the season. Maybe we get some more development out of Ruben Hyppolite II as well and see what kind of speed he could bring in Year 2.
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