The Bears still have time to make one more move before training camp, and there are a few veteran names that fit the bill if Chicago wants to keep building out the roster for 2026.
That possibility matters because the NFC North is shaping up to be a grind. The Green Bay Packers and Detroit Lions are both heading into the summer expecting to contend in the division, which leaves the Bears with a decision to make: stand pat or add one more experienced piece who could help in the locker room, on the field, or both.
Joey Bosa is one of the most intriguing options. His offseason debate over whether to keep playing caught some people off guard, but Chicago has already dealt with a similar retirement question before.
Ben Johnson talked Case Keenum out of retirement a season ago, and Keenum is now back for a second year with the franchise. Bosa would give the Bears a real boost in the pass-rushing group if he can be convinced to return, especially with a clear starting role available.
Bobby Wagner brings a different kind of value. The Super Bowl champion is still a respected presence and remains a physical force inside, but the speed needed to handle coverage responsibilities every down is no longer there.
Even so, there is real appeal in having Wagner on the sideline, helping set the tone and stepping in as a rotational piece. A player/coach type of role would be the question.
Tyreek Hill is the biggest swing on the board. Chicago’s receiver room already looks exciting, but Hill’s résumé stands alone.
The idea here is less about immediate help and more about a longer-term investment, since a serious injury means he likely would not be ready in the first weeks of the season. If the current depth delivers, the Bears could either move on from the idea or end up with what would be the league’s most talented receiver rotation.
Von Miller rounds out the list, and the case for him is more about influence than heavy snap counts. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion who authored one of the most dominant edge-rushing stretches the league has ever seen. Even now, he can still provide a handful of sacks, and that alone makes him worth a look for a young pass-rushing group that could use his experience.
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Bears Secondary Uncertainty Is Putting One Defender Under Real Pressure
With four starters gone from the secondary, the Bears are heading into camp with real questions at cornerback, and that has opened a door for Jaylon Jones. The veteran, who re-signed with Chicago and has mostly been a special teams contributor, is getting a chance to work his way into the mix for defensive snaps as the team sorts through a reshaped back end.
Jones path is still far from settled, though, because the competition around him is only getting tighter as injuries and roster turnover keep the picture fluid. For a player whose value has long been tied to doing the little things, this summer now carries added weight as he tries to show he can be more than depth while the Bears continue searching for answers in the secondary. [Read more 🡒]
Bears Fans Should Keep A Close Eye On Mason Murphy In Camp
Training camp always has a few linemen who can change the conversation with one strong week, and Mason Murphy is one of the Bears more interesting names to watch. The undrafted former Auburn and USC blocker is getting a look on an offensive line that already has established starters and depth, but his college background across multiple spots gives him a path to stand out in a room where flexibility matters.
Murphys value is tied less to any one position than to the idea that he can help wherever the Bears need a body, which is exactly the sort of trait that keeps an undrafted lineman in the mix deep into camp. The challenge is obvious: there are already favored options across the line, so Murphy may have to keep stacking solid days just to stay in the conversation, and his best chance could come from being the last man standing when the roster starts to take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Training Camp Could End The Bears Run For 3 Familiar Names
As training camp opens, there are a few familiar Bears names worth watching closely, even if none of them are in the same spot they were a year ago. Cole Kmet has already seen his role shift after rookie Colston Lovelands breakout, Dayo Odeyingbo is trying to get back on track after an injury-hit season, and DAndre Swift remains part of a backfield that now has another young option in Kyle Monangai.
For Chicago, that makes camp about more than just reps and conditioning. It is also a sorting exercise, with Kmets usage, Odeyingbos health, and Swifts contract situation all hanging over the next few weeks. The Bears do not need every answer immediately, but how those three look once the pads come on could shape decisions well beyond August. [Read more 🡒]