The Chicago Bears are entering a pivotal offseason, and one of the clearest areas of need is along the defensive line. While there’s hope that internal development from young players like Gervon Dexter and Austin Booker - and a healthier Dayo Odeyingbo - can elevate the unit, the Bears can’t afford to bank solely on potential. That’s where free agency comes into play, and one name that makes a lot of sense for Chicago is John Franklin-Myers.
At 6'4", 288 pounds, Franklin-Myers brings exactly the kind of versatility defensive coordinators dream about. He’s capable of lining up both on the edge and inside, giving a defense multiple looks without needing to swap personnel.
That kind of flexibility is gold in today’s NFL, where offenses are constantly shifting formations and tempo. Franklin-Myers’ high motor and adaptability make him a plug-and-play option who can impact games from multiple alignments.
At 29, he’s not a spring chicken, but he’s far from over the hill. He’s played consistent, high-level football and has shown he can handle a full workload. For a team like the Bears, who are looking to build a deep, rotating front, that’s exactly the kind of veteran presence they need.
Now, let’s talk fit.
Franklin-Myers’ skill set mirrors what the Bears originally envisioned for Odeyingbo - a bigger-bodied edge who can set the edge against the run and then kick inside as a pass rusher in sub-packages. That plan never fully materialized, largely due to Odeyingbo’s injury, which forced the Bears to shuffle their defensive front and left them thin on reliable contributors.
If both Odeyingbo and Franklin-Myers are healthy and productive, Chicago suddenly has a much deeper, more dynamic defensive front. Imagine a rotation that includes Montez Sweat, Austin Booker, Dexter, Odeyingbo, and Franklin-Myers - that’s a group that can bring speed, power, and versatility across the board. It also gives the Bears the ability to stay fresh late in games, a key factor in closing out close contests.
But let’s be realistic - banking on both Odeyingbo and Franklin-Myers to hit their ceilings is optimistic. That’s why pursuing Franklin-Myers is a smart move regardless.
Even if only one of them emerges as a consistent force, the Bears are still better off than they were a year ago. And if both pan out?
Then you’re looking at a front that can legitimately change games.
The Bears need more speed and disruption up front. They need guys who can win one-on-ones, collapse pockets, and make life easier on the secondary. Franklin-Myers checks a lot of those boxes, and his ability to move around the line would give Chicago’s defensive staff the kind of flexibility they didn’t have last season.
Bottom line: This is a move that makes sense on multiple levels. It’s not just about adding talent - it’s about building a defensive line that can adapt, rotate, and dominate. And John Franklin-Myers could be a big piece of that puzzle.