The Chicago Bears shocked the NFL world in 2025 and won the NFC North with an 11-6 record. Sure, the other NFC North teams did decline a bit, but the Bears simply emerged as the best team. Chicago advanced to the Divisional Round of the playoffs and clearly set a foundation of being a long-term fixture in the NFC.
However, this roster is not without flaws, so it's imperative that the Bears shore up the weakest spots this offseason. Due to limited cap space, Chicago might have to get creative, but if the modern-day NFL has told us anything, it's that there are creative ways to work around cap space.
Approaching free agency in just over two weeks, let's take a gander at three free agents this team must sign at all costs.
The Chicago Bears must sign these free agents at all costs this offseason
Jamel Dean, CB
The Bears secondary could get absolutely gutted in free agency. Top free agents for Chicago on the backend include Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Jaylon Jones, and Nahshon Wright. Byard and Brisker could be two players the Bears try to retain, but Wright is also due for a huge payday.
Chicago could look externally and bring in someone like Jamel Dean, one of the most steady cornerbacks in the NFL. Dean has spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and racked up three interceptions and nine passes defended this year in another solid season.
PFF noted that Dean allowed a 46.9 passer rating when in coverage this year, which is an other-worldly number. There isn't a scenario where Dean doesn't get some sort of handsome payday this offseason.
The Bears need to ensure it comes from them, as the secondary does need a massive influx of talent, especially if they opt to start fresh with certain players.
John Franklin-Myers, DE
The Bears do need to get better rushing the passer this offseason. Chicago could shoot for the moon and try and swing a trade for Maxx Crosby, but that might be a bit unrealistic at this point.
Chicago could shoot a couple of tiers lower but still get a good player if they pursued John Franklin-Myers, a defensive end who just finished up a two-year stint with the Denver Broncos. In 2025, Franklin-Myers racked up 7.5 sacks, six tackles for loss, and 15 quarterback hits.
He's been a remarkably consistent player the last half-decade, actually. Over the last five seasons in the NFL, Franklin-Myers has had between 3-7.5 sacks, 4-8 tackles for loss, and 14-20 quarterback hits in each season. The consistency is there, so if the Bears were to make this signing, they would absolutely know what they'd be signing up for.
Franklin-Myers rushes the passer well along the interior and is largely solid against the run.
CJ Gardner-Johnson, DB
I'm probably cheating a bit with CJ Gardner-Johnson since he finished the season with the Bears, but he was simply an ideal in-season addition for the Bears. In only 10 games, Gardner-Johnson had two interceptions, four passes defended, three sacks, 51 total tackles, five quarterback hits, and five tackles for loss.
Gardner-Johnson is definitely one of the more versatile defensive backs in the NFL, being able to function as a pure safety and a nickel in certain situations. His performance with the Bears in 2025 might make it hard for Chicago to not find a way to bring him back.
He seemed to be a seamless fit in Dennis Allen's defense, and with the potential for a ton of secondary turnover this offseason, the Bears might value someone with Gardner-Johnson's skillset. Overall, while he is an in-house free agent, he's a free agent that must be a priority for the Bears.