Bears face tough offseason decisions with high-priced players to assess whether or not they fit with Ben Johnson and Dennis Allen
DJ Moore and Tremaine Edmunds headline some of the toughest offseason decisions for the Chicago Bears.
The Chicago Bears are full speed into the offseason and already been in the news with some of the initial offseason plans happening with plenty more coming down the road.
The Bears announced the first wave of roster moves on Tuesday, signing 14 players to reserve/futures contracts to bring them back in 2026 on the 90-man roster. Head coach Ben Johnson has been active as well after losing the first member of his coaching staff in Eric Bieniemy that he now has to replace.
As for the other front office moves, the Bears have 26 pending free agents to assess whether or not to bring back. But, beyond the free agents, the Bears have some tough decisions coming up regarding the future of players currently on the roster. Here are the five toughest conversations the Bears need to go ahead and start discussing.
WR DJ Moore
This is easily the toughest decision for the front office. Since acquiring Moore in the trade with the Carolina Panthers, the front office has shown a lot of faith and support in the top wide receiver. But, the last two seasons have been frustratingly unproductive given his 4-year, $110,000,000 contract. That’s something that became more obvious this season playing in Ben Johnson’s offense because the scheme isn’t built around a top player, it’s built around an arsenal of weapons. Moore’s lack of effort at times has added even more frustration to the conversation.
Ultimately, it’s time for the Bears to bite the bullet and move on. Moore’s $23,485,000 salary for the 2026 season is already fully guaranteed, but the Bears can still save $16,500,000 with a $12,000,000 cap hit if he’s a pre-June 1 trade. And the Bears can get off the future money. It just makes sense to go that route and there will be plenty of teams interested in acquiring Moore to be a true No. 1 WR.
What coaches have said: “A lot of times, you can have a receiver on your team, or a player, that may be higher paid that has a different attitude toward things. He does not. He is one of us and I love the way he competes.” – OC Declan Doyle
Prediction: Trade
LB Tremaine Edmunds
Edmunds is entering into the final year of the 4-year, $72,000,000 contract he signed with the Bears back in March of 2023. With how the contract is structured, the Bears have an option to release him this spring, which would create $2,437,500 in dead cap but save the team $15,000,000. Edmunds started the 2025-26 playing at a Pro Bowl level until suffering a groin injury and never fully returned based on his level of play the final five games of the season. The savings alone justify a release.
What coaches have said: “His skill set fits that position in terms of the things that we ask that position to do: the size, the length, the athletic ability. When you’re in the middle, there’s a lot of communication things that have to occur, and (on the weak side) you’re able to take a little bit of that off his plate. He’s a little bit more free to just go play.” – DC Dennis Allen
Prediction: Strong cut candidate
RB D’Andre Swift
Swift had a resurgent season in his first year back in Ben Johnson’s offense, posting career-highs in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns while still splitting carries for the majority of the season with rookie RB Kyle Monangai. He has one year left on his contract with an $8.8 million cap hit. Moving on this spring would save the Bears $7,470,000 but that forces the need at RB to find another player to pair with Monangai. Swift knows the offense and honestly that price isn’t bad for the production he had. I’d wager he stays for another season and plays out the contract.
What coaches have said: “He’s disciplined on his landmarks, probably the most disciplined I’ve seen him be since he’s been in his career now… That’s what he’s always had in his body and that’s what we’ll continue to need from here on out.” – HC Ben Johnson
Prediction: Plays out the final year of his contract in 2026, possible 1-2 year extension
TE Cole Kmet
The Bears made the bold decision of drafting a tight end in the Top-10 of the 2025 NFL Draft in Colston Loveland, a decision that’s since been justified with his performance. But, the Bears now face a tough decision with veteran tight end Cole Kmet, the team’s longest-tenured offensive player. Kmet is another obvious cut candidate with a $11,600,000 cap hit the next two years with no guarantees remaining on his contract, cutting him would also save the Bears $8,400,000 this year or $10,000,000 in 2027. Personally, I don’t think the Bears want to move on from him. He still has value to what the Bears do on offense, but not for the price tag of a high-end tight end. I see the Bears restructuring the deal to lower the cap hit or extending the deal for a lower price that matches his current value.
What coaches have said: “I believe he’s been here the longest out of anybody on the roster right now, and you can tell that they respect him for that. He’s done things the right way for a long time. It’s been great, not just him learning the offense, but helping others in the process.” – HC Ben Johnson
Prediction: Restructure or possible extension
LB T.J. Edwards
The Bears showed how they feel about Edwards last spring when the front office handed him 2-year, $20 million extension. It wouldn’t make sense to move on from Edwards this offseason since it would create $12,916,667 in dead cap, however, next offseason it’s a possibility. Edwards is currently recovering from a fractured fibula with a possibility that he returns for the start of the 2026 season. He also dealt with a few different soft-tissue injuries that derailed his 2025-26 season. With Edmunds possibility on his way out, I feel Edwards would have to stay to avoid blowing up the entire position.
What coaches have said: “T.J. is a smart, tough player. He’s been very productive here.” – DC Dennis Allen
Prediction: Stays for 2026
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