Chicago Bears News

Free-agent wide receiver Kalif Raymond is signing an undisclosed one-year deal with the Chicago Bears on Tuesday, a source told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. The former Detroit Lions wideout will remain in the NFC North and will give the Bears some depth after they lost Olamide Zaccheaus to free agency on Monday. The 31-year-old former undrafted free agent out of Holy Cross started his NFL career back in 2016 with the Denver Broncos. He has been with Detroit since the 2021 campaign, catching 171 passes for 2,185 yards and eight touchdowns on 231 targets in his five years with the Lions. Raymond has mostly been an asset on special teams as a kick and punt returner. He didn't go over 300 yards receiving in each of the last two years in Motown and won't be expected to have a major role on offense in Chicago, making him avoidable in the majority of fantasy leagues.

The Chicago Bears have re-signed quarterback Case Keenum to a two-year, $5.5 million deal with a maximum value of $8 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.com. Keenum hasn't played an NFL snap since 2023, and he spent 2025 in the third-string role behind Caleb Williams and Tyson Bagent. The depth chart isn't expected to change much in 2026, so we're a bit surprised to see the Bears make such a financial commitment to a third-string quarterback. With that said, he offers indisputed experience, depth, and a veteran presence in an otherwise young quarterback room. Chicago will hope its investment in Keenum ends up being an exercise of caution, as he'd likely only get into a game if both Williams and Bagent were hurt (or if Bagent gets traded).

Free-agent veteran wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus is signing an undisclosed deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Monday, sources told Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. Zaccheaus went undrafted out of Virginia before latching on with the Falcons in 2019. The 28-year-old spent the first four years of his NFL career in Atlanta, catching 94 passes for 1,328 yards and eight touchdowns on 151 targets in 55 games (23 starts). Zaccheaus will now return to the Falcons after catching 39 of his 65 targets for 313 yards and two touchdowns in 16 regular-season games (five starts) in 2025 in his lone season with the Chicago Bears. With Darnell Mooney not expected to return, Zaccheaus could have the opportunity to serve as the team's No. 2 wideout behind Drake London, depending on what other additions the team makes at the position in free agency and the draft. At best, though, Zaccheaus will most likely be a low-upside WR4/flex in deeper fantasy football leagues in his return to Atlanta.

The Chicago Bears are acquiring center Garrett Bradbury from the New England Patriots on Friday, sources told Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network. The deal won't officially be processed until the new league year begins next Wednesday. The move comes after former Bears center Drew Dalman surprisingly announced his retirement earlier this week. The 30-year-old veteran started all 17 regular-season games for the second straight year in 2025 and helped the Patriots get all the way to the Super Bowl, but he wasn't particularly effective as a run-blocker last season. He signed a two-year, $9.5 million contract with New England in March of last year. Bradbury, a former 18th overall pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2019 out of North Carolina State, could face competition at the center position in Chicago if the Bears add another center in free agency.

Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland took a little while to get going in his rookie season in 2025 after the Bears took him 10th overall out of Michigan. In his first six NFL games, Loveland caught 11 of 18 targets for 116 yards and no touchdowns. Everything changed when the 21-year-old had six catches for a season-high 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9, though. Loveland was on the map in 12-team fantasy football leagues, and he was a much bigger part of Chicago's offense the rest of the way, ultimately finishing with a 58-713-6 line on 82 targets to finish as the No. 12 TE in half-PPR scoring. He caught 12 of 25 targets for 193 yards in the team's two playoff games. Following the trade of receiver DJ Moore on Thursday, Loveland should easily be a top-12 fantasy TE in 2026, and his dynasty stock is looking even brighter after his strong first season in the NFL.

The Chicago Bears are releasing Pro Bowl linebacker Tremaine Edmunds on Thursday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Edmunds will enter free agency this offseason after being a full-time starter in each of his first eight seasons in the NFL. The 27-year-old former 16th overall pick by the Buffalo Bills in 2018 out of Virginia Tech played in a career-low 13 games for the Chicago Bears in 2025 in his third year with the team. Despite missing four regular-season games, Edmunds still tallied 112 tackles (61 solo), one sack, a career-high four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and a fumble recovery. Edmunds has had over 100 combined tackles in all eight of his NFL seasons, and he should generate plenty of interest on the open market. Cutting Edmunds will free up $15 million on this year's salary cap for the Bears. Edmunds has exactly 900 combined tackles as he heads into his ninth year in the league in 2026.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Luther Burden III finished his rookie season on a tear that had him widely regarded as a Year 2 breakout candidate, and following the team's trade of DJ Moore to the Bills, his stock will only continue to rise. Burden's 2.69 yards per route run led all rookies in 2025 and trailed only Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba among all the league's receivers. Among his own team, however, he was unable to carve out a significant role, with four Chicago players topping the 650-yard mark, while none could crack 750. With Moore's 80 targets, 682 yards, and six touchdowns now being shipped to Buffalo, Burden, Rome Odunze, and tight end Colston Loveland should all see significant production spikes in 2026.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has shown brilliant flashes throughout his first two seasons, but he has yet to capitalize on the potential that made him the ninth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. With teammate DJ Moore now being shipped to Buffalo via trade, the door is wide open for him claim the WR1 spot in Ben Johnson's fantasy-friendly offense. Despite missing five games in 2025, Odunze led the Bears in targets, and along with Moore was one of four players to top 600 receiving yards. With Moore's 80 regular-season targets likely to be distributed between Odunze and promising second-year players Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland, all should see a boost in productivity, and will likely all see their dynasty cost rise dramatically.

Chicago Bears Pro Bowl center Drew Dalman announced his retirement from the NFL at the age of 27 on Tuesday, sources told Adam Schefter of ESPN. Dalman was taken in the fourth round (114th overall) by the Atlanta Falcons in the 2021 NFL draft out of Stanford. He played the first four years of his NFL career with the Falcons before becoming a first-time Pro Bowler with the Bears in 2025 in 17 regular-season games. Dalman signed a three-year, $42 million contract with the Bears a year ago. His decision to hang up his cleats in his prime is a big surprise and is a big loss for Chicago's offensive line. The Bears will most likely make finding a new center an offseason priority, whether it be through free agency or the NFL draft in April. Dalman started 57 of the 74 games he appeared in over the course of his five-year career.

The Athletic's Kevin Fishbain and Dan Wiederer say that there "seems to be a sense" that Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore will be back in 2026. However, no one could rule out the "possibility of him playing elsewhere if a good deal materializes." General manager Ryan Poles didn't make any promises and even expressed uncertainty that Moore would be with the team this spring, leading to speculation that the 28-year-old receiver could be traded this offseason. The Bears' coaching staff and front office value Moore's "intelligence, versatility, and underrated durability." For whatever reason, Moore and quarterback Caleb Williams haven't developed great chemistry, and Moore's $28.5 million salary cap hit for next season is a factor. It's discouraging for Moore's 2026 fantasy value if he stays in the Windy City because he had career-low production in 2025, with Williams taking a step forward in Year 2. A third- or fourth-rounder could be enough to get the Bears to bite.

Chicago Bears running back D'Andre Swift faced strong competition from rookie Kyle Monangai during the 2025 NFL season, but he managed to hold onto his lead-back role thanks to a productive campaign of his own. Swift benefited from new head coach Ben Johnson's offense, ultimately finishing the year with 1,087 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns, both career highs. He also caught 34 passes for 299 yards and another touchdown through the air. Swift's snap share had dipped to just above 50% by the end of the season. Still, over the final six weeks, he had 13.5 carries per game, 1.7 receptions per game, and five total touchdowns. Monangai had a strong season of his own and should take on a bigger role next year, but Swift showed that he deserves to continue to lead this backfield, at least for the time being. He'll need to continue playing well to fend off Monangai in his second season. Swift is still an attractive RB2 option in redraft leagues, but the eventual threat of Monangai taking over -- even if not imminent -- makes the veteran running back a sell-high candidate in most dynasty formats.

The Chicago Tribune's Brad Biggs thinks the Chicago Bears would most likely need a "second-round pick or two picks equaling that value" to make it worth their while to trade backup quarterback Tyson Bagent this offseason. Biggs also questions whether any team would actually offer a second-rounder for Bagent, who has only made four starts (all in his rookie season in 2023) in his three years in the NFL. The Arizona Cardinals have been rumored as a team that could potentially trade for Bagent, and the New York Jets are another organization that might look to save money at the QB position in 2026. It's just hard to imagine any team, no matter how desperate, wanting to give up much for Bagent before they make moves in free agency and the upcoming NFL draft. If Bagent is traded, he wouldn't be guaranteed a starting role going into Week 1 and would have to win a QB competition in training camp.

The Chicago Bears have received calls on wide receiver DJ Moore this offseason, sources told Jordan Schultz of FOX Sports. There has been speculation that Moore might be traded after a down year in 2025. He has over $23 million in guaranteed money in 2026 and is "viewed as available for the right price" by teams in the market for a receiver. The Bears are also getting calls on backup quarterback Tyson Bagent from QB-needy teams. Offensively, the Bears took a step forward in 2025 under head coach Ben Johnson, but Moore only caught 50 passes for 682 yards and six touchdowns in 17 regular-season games. Moore has had at least four touchdowns in seven of his eight NFL seasons, but his 682 receiving yards were a career-low, as well as his 50 receptions, and that came with Rome Odunze missing time due to an injury. The 28-year-old's best chance of bouncing back in 2026 is most likely with another team.

The Chicago Bears have granted permission for linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to seek a trade this offseason, a league source told Brad Biggs of The Chicago Tribune. Edmunds is under contract through the 2026 season at $15 million after he signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the team in May of 2023. He's still young at 27 years old and was playing at a Pro Bowl caliber in 10 games before suffering a minor injury. Despite playing in a career-low 13 games in his third season in Chicago, the former 16th overall pick of the Buffalo Bills in 2018 out of Virginia Tech led the Bears with 112 tackles (61 solo). He also had one sack, a career-high four interceptions, nine pass breakups, and a forced fumble in the regular season. If Edmunds reaches the open market, he'll be one of the better linebackers available and should sign quickly.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles said it's "hard to tell" if wide receiver DJ Moore will be on the team next season or if they will look to trade him, according to Ari Meirov of The 33rd Team. The Bears expect to know more over the course of this week as they gauge his trade market at this week's NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis. Moore, 28, is two years into the four-year, $110 million contract he signed with Chicago in July of 2024. The former 24th overall pick in 2018 out of Maryland had some clutch moments in 2025, but he took a big step back statistically in head coach Ben Johnson's offense, reeling in a career-low 50 passes for a career-worst 682 yards and six touchdowns on 85 targets over 17 regular-season games. The emergence of young receiver Luther Burden III and tight end Colston Loveland will make it difficult for Moore to stand out in fantasy every week if he sticks around in 2026, especially with Rome Odunze also in the mix.

Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Poles said at the NFL scouting combine on Tuesday that the team has gotten calls on backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, according to Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic. The Arizona Cardinals are one team that is reportedly interested in acquiring Bagent from the Bears this offseason as they contemplate life without Kyler Murray (foot) going into the 2026 season. At best, the 25-year-old former undrafted free agent QB would be in the mix for a starting job for a team like the rebuilding Cardinals. In his first three seasons in the NFL with the Bears, Bagent has appeared in 12 regular-season games (four starts) and has gone 99-for-149 passing for 917 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions. Bagent signed a two-year, $10 million contract with the Bears in August of last year, so he has one year left on his current deal.

Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze got off to a scorching start to the 2025 season, recording 20 catches for 296 yards and five touchdowns on 35 targets across his first four games of the year. However, the 23-year-old's production slowed down over the course of the season. Over his next eight games played, Odunze hauled in 24 receptions for 265 yards and one touchdown on 55 targets. Odunze also suffered a foot injury that caused him to miss Chicago's final five games of the regular season. The 23-year-old was able to return for the playoffs, so he should be good to go for 2026 from a health perspective. However, Odunze has not yet shown the elite fantasy production upside some projected when Chicago selected him ninth overall in the 2024 NFL Draft. Odunze also has significant target competition around him with the Bears in the form of wide receivers DJ Moore and Luther Burden III, as well as tight end Colston Loveland. Odunze still has time to break out as a star, but his dynasty outlook took a slight hit in 2025.

Across 16 games as a rookie in 2025, Chicago Bears tight end Colston Loveland recorded 58 receptions for 713 yards and six touchdowns on 82 targets. Loveland's season-long numbers are strong, but the 21-year-old truly took off down the stretch of the season. Including the playoffs, Loveland hauled in 39 catches for 500 yards and three scores on 63 targets over his final seven contests. Loveland showed off an improved chemistry with Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, and could be primed for a superstar breakout in his second NFL season. Between wide receivers DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and Luther Burden III, Chicago has plenty of capable pass-catchers who could provide significant target competition for Loveland. Still, the young tight end should be a focus of his team's offense and could dominate playing time at his position in 2026 if the Bears move on from veteran tight end Cole Kmet over the offseason. Loveland profiles as an elite fantasy tight end in dynasty formats after his rookie campaign.

Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet's value is declining ahead of the 2026 season. Kmet never really established himself as a top fantasy threat through his first five years in the league, but he did have two top-eight finishes at the tight end position during that span. However, his fantasy production took a major step backward in 2025 (his sixth season in the league) as the Bears shook up their personnel. New head coach Ben Johnson made plenty of changes on the offensive side of the ball, with the most notable being the addition of rookie tight end Colston Loveland. Chicago started feeding Loveland after the Week 5 bye, which resulted in Kmet's snap share dropping from 100% in Week 4 to just 52% in Week 6. Kmet ultimately finished the year with a modest stat line of 30 catches, 347 yards, and two touchdowns across 16 games. The reception and yardage totals both represented his lowest marks since his rookie campaign in 2020. Kmet is under contract for two more years, and while the Bears do have a potential out this offseason, it seems like he'll remain in Chicago through 2027. That would mean he'll nestle into the No. 2 tight end role next season, severely limiting his fantasy value and upside. He's not worth drafting in 2026 redraft leagues, and dynasty managers should absolutely look to trade him within the next couple of months, even though it's too late to completely "sell high."

The Arizona Cardinals are intrigued by Chicago Bears backup quarterback Tyson Bagent, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports. Bagent has one year left on his deal, so the Cardinals would have to trade for him. The 25-year-old former undrafted free agent beat out P.J. Walker for the backup job with the Bears and was signed to a two-year, $10 million extension in August of last year. In his three years in the NFL with Chicago, Bagent has appeared in 12 games (four starts) and has gone 99-for-149 passing for 917 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions. Arizona currently has veteran Jacoby Brissett and Kyler Murray (foot) under contract for next season, but the Cardinals are reportedly looking to trade Murray after another disappointing and injury-plagued campaign in 2025. The Cardinals will surely be looking for a signal-caller in April's draft, too, so if Bagent were to land in the desert, he'd be competing for a starting job in a best-case scenario.