As the Chicago Bears head into the 2026 offseason, the mission is clear: bolster the defense. Yes, this is a unit that led the league in takeaways - a stat that speaks to their opportunistic nature - but dig a little deeper, and you’ll find cracks that need sealing across all three levels. The questions start with who stays and who goes, and depending on how those contracts shake out, the Bears could find themselves with needs just about everywhere on defense.
General manager Ryan Poles isn’t hiding from the challenge. In his season-ending remarks, Poles acknowledged the progress but made it clear that progress alone isn’t the goal.
“We didn’t reach the goals we wanted to hit, and that’s to be a championship-caliber team,” he said. “That’ll never change.
I am proud of the progress we made. Knowing that, we can’t be complacent.”
Translation: Expect the Bears to be aggressive - but calculated - when the offseason officially kicks off.
Now, on paper, the Bears don’t have a ton of salary cap flexibility heading into 2026. But this front office has room to maneuver.
Restructures, cuts, and creative accounting could open the door for a splash move or two, especially if the right player becomes available. And if you're looking for a potential game-changer, one name stands out: Trey Hendrickson.
Pro Football Focus recently paired Hendrickson with the Bears as part of a breakdown of the top 10 defensive free agents in 2026. The reasoning? It’s all about need and familiarity.
Let’s start with the need. Montez Sweat delivered after arriving in Chicago, but beyond him, the Bears’ edge rush rotation was thin.
No other edge rusher with at least 100 pass-rush snaps posted a pass-rush win rate above 10%. That’s a major red flag.
Chicago finished 29th in the league in pressure rate (31.1%), which puts a spotlight on just how much Sweat was carrying the load. The Bears need another threat - someone who can win consistently and force offenses to account for more than just one side of the line.
Enter Hendrickson, who, when healthy, has been one of the league’s most disruptive pass rushers. Over the past three seasons, he ranks in the top five in PFF’s pass-rush grade on true pass sets (92.5), and he’s one of just six edge rushers in that span with a win rate north of 20%. That’s elite company.
Sure, Hendrickson’s 2025 campaign was cut short - a core muscle injury sidelined him for 10 games and eventually required surgery. But even with that setback, his track record speaks volumes.
And his situation with the Bengals has been trending toward a breakup for a while. Now, with free agency looming, a fresh start feels inevitable.
There’s also a strong connection to Chicago’s current defensive coordinator, Dennis Allen. Hendrickson spent the first four years of his career with Allen in New Orleans, and in 2020, he broke out with a 13.5-sack season that put him on the national radar.
That familiarity could be a key factor if the Bears decide to pursue him - and it makes sense. Allen knows how to deploy Hendrickson, and Hendrickson knows how to thrive in Allen’s system.
Injuries to young players like Dayo Odeyingbo and Austin Booker didn’t help this season, but even if both return at full strength, the Bears still need another proven edge rusher. Hendrickson brings that - and then some.
Now, about the price tag. Hendrickson is 31 and coming off a significant injury, so the market will be watching his medical evaluations closely.
According to Spotrac, his projected market value sits at $25.4 million annually on a two-year deal. That’s a hefty number, but not out of reach if the Bears decide he’s the right fit.
Bottom line: If Hendrickson checks out physically and the money makes sense, Chicago should be in the mix. This defense has taken steps forward, but to make the leap from promising to dominant, they need more firepower off the edge. A Hendrickson-Allen reunion could be the move that helps get them there.