What are the biggest positional concerns for the Bears?
The Bears will continue offseason workouts over the next month and see if there are moves to address with their limited salary cap space.
Which positions are most concerning moving forward? Here’s a look.
Defensive tackle
Poles entered the offseason with a need to boost the defensive line, including from the middle, after an inconsistent season stopping the run and pressuring opposing quarterbacks. After free agency and the draft, the defensive tackle spot still remains a question mark.
The Bears didn’t make a major move at tackle. Poles felt he boosted speed from the interior with the free-agent additions of Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street and James Lynch. Chicago wasn’t impressed with this year’s defensive tackle class in the draft but traded back into the sixth round to take Jordan van den Berg.
Gervon Dexter enters the final year of his rookie contract. He should be motivated after flashing his potential at times over the past few seasons. Chicago will also rely on Grady Jarrett, who will be 33 next season.
Defensive end
Analysts and fans expected the Bears to address defensive end at some point in offseason. Instead, Poles didn’t add to the spot at all.
Chicago will rely on what they already had in the room. Montez Sweat finished with 10 sacks last year, the most he’s had with one team during a season, to go along with 18 quarterback hits and 13 tackles for loss. The question remains who can rush the quarterback opposite Sweat.
Austin Booker will likely get the first shot to hold that spot. After missing the first part of the season due to injury, Booker flashed at times and put up 4.5 sacks in 10 games. The Bears will see whether the former fifth-round pick can take another step with a full training camp.
Poles will also see whether Shemar Turner and Dayo Odeyingbo can make an impact coming off season-ending injuries. Turner is a complete unknown after he missed most of training camp during his rookie season and played in five games before he tore his ACL. Odeyingbo didn’t make much of an impact after being the team’s top edge addition. He suffered a torn Achilles tendon midway through the year.
Left tackle
Chicago have uncertainty at left tackle for a second straight offseason.
The Bears thought they might’ve found their starter in Ozzy Trapilo, one of last year’s second-round picks. Trapilo took over midway through the season and held on to the spot into the playoffs before he suffered a patellar tendon injury in the NFC Wild Card game. The Bears aren’t sure if Trapilo will play at all in 2026.
Chicago brought back Braxton Jones on a one-year deal after he was the team’s starter for three seasons and started the first four games last year. But the Bears replaced Jones and then he dealt with an injury for most of the season.
Jedrick Wills Jr., Theo Benedet and Kiran Amegadjie could all also be in contention. Wills, a former No. 10 overall pick who didn’t play last season as he recovered from injury, brings interesting potential if healthy. Benedet started a few games at left tackle before Trapilo replaced him while he was injured.