Bears top pending free agents we predict will sign elsewhere in the NFL and the best fits for each player
The Chicago Bears are likely saying goodbye to these former starters when free agency opens in a few hours.
The Chicago Bears, and the rest of the league, are hours away from the start of the legal tampering period, the time when pending free agents have permission to begin speaking with other teams.
The Bears are expected to have a solid amount of overhaul after the first season under head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, which means numerous former players will be looking to find a new home in free agency. Here are four former starters we believe will be signing elsewhere this week and potential teams to watch as landing spots.
S Jaquan Brisker
Best Fits: Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals
The Commanders and Bengals are both looking for an aggressive safety to add to the secondary and Jaquan Brisker is the perfect match for either team. He’s expected to be priced out of Chicago’s range with the team planning to prioritize bringing back Kevin Byard III instead. While he’s had some injury concerns during his first three years to due concussions, Brisker played all 19 games in 2025 and showed to the other 31 teams in the league that he can be an impactful player.
LB Tremaine Edmunds
Best Fits: New York Giants and Carolina Panthers
Tremaine Edmunds is an experienced starter and still only 27-years-old. He will have plenty of interested suitors. The Giants and Panthers make the most sense as two teams in the market for a veteran linebacker. Edmunds is likely to sign a multi-year deal worth $10+ per year. It’s unfortunate that the Bears had to move on, but Edmunds will land right back on his feet real soon.
CB Nahshon Wright
Best Fits: New York Giants and Tennessee Titans
Nahshon Wright had a career resurgent year with the Bears after leading the league in takeaways and being named as a Pro Bowl alternate. He’s now able to cash in on a solid contract after playing on a one-year, $1.1 million deal. Saying he gets a strong market, the Bears would be content letting him walk. Hopefully he can land in a similar scheme and continue the same level of success he had in 2025.
LT Braxton Jones
Best Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers and Carolina Panthers
I still think there’s a solid shot Braxton Jones comes back to Chicago, but the release of Taylor Decker puts a new name on top of the left tackle target list for the Bears. If Decker’s price is too much or he wants to sign a multi-year deal, I could see the Bears circling back to Jones. If Jones would rather have a change of scenery, the Pittsburgh Steelers or Carolina Panthers could be a logical solution to give either team a depth piece / fringe-starter at left tackle after injuries to their recent draft picks.
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