The Bears spent the offseason reshaping the roster around Caleb Williams, and training camp is where the new pieces start answering for themselves. With DJ Moore gone, the safety room turned over, and Drew Dalman retired, Chicago has plenty of fresh faces to evaluate. Three additions stand out as the ones fans should keep closest tabs on.
Dillon Thieneman is one of the biggest bets in the group. The Bears let Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard leave in free agency rather than bring back the veteran duo, then turned to the Oregon safety as a possible starter.
Thieneman began his college career at Purdue, moved to Oregon for his junior season, and then entered the draft. Chicago has shown it can get rookies on the field quickly, with Colston Loveland winning a job from Cole Kmet, but there’s no automatic path here.
Thieneman fits the team’s push for a younger, more athletic roster, and camp will show whether that gamble starts paying off.
Kalif Raymond brings a different kind of value. After the Bears traded Moore, more pressure landed on Luther Burden III and Rome Odunze, and Raymond gives them a veteran presence without much risk.
He’s on a one-year deal, so Chicago isn’t locked in if it doesn’t work out. He’s expected to be the WR3 and also gives the Bears a punt returner after leading the league in punt-return yards in 2024 and earning second-team All-Pro honors.
His deal is worth about $5 million for the year, which makes this a low-stakes move with real upside if he gets off to a strong start in camp.
Garrett Bradbury may end up being the most important of the three because of what he’s replacing. Dalman’s retirement forced the Bears to move quickly, and they brought in Bradbury on a one-year contract from the New England Patriots.
Caleb Williams can create on his own and escape pressure, but that was easier with an All-Pro center like Dalman in front of him. Bradbury now has to show he can give Chicago something close to that stability.
The Bears also have Logan Jones from Iowa in the mix, another sign that the team is leaning into youth and fresh legs wherever it can.
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Training Camp Could End The Bears Run For 3 Familiar Names
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