Chicago Bears must get one of their best player major help this offseason

In his first season playing in new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen’s system, edge rusher Montez Sweat had a career-year for the Bears.

Posting double-digit sacks, Sweat was named one of the Bears’ highest-graded players on the roster, according to Pro Football Focus while garnering a 72.1 overall grade.

“The Bears’ pass rush was overall disappointing,” BearsWire analyst Alyssa Barbieri writes of Chicago’s defense. “But defensive end Montez Sweat had a bounce back year, all things considered. Sweat recorded double-digit sacks (10) for the first time in Chicago while logging 53 tackles, including 13 tackles for loss, 18 quarterback hits, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and five pass breakups while playing all 17 games.”

Given that Chicago is currently projected by be upwards of $5 million over the cap to begin free agency, Poles and the Bears may need to get creative to get Sweat the kind of major help necessary to lift Allen’s defense up the rankings in 2026.

Whether by selecting the best pass rusher on the board, in a loaded class at the position, in the first round of April’s NFL Draft, or pulling off a blockbuster trade for All-Pro Maxx Crosby and creating cap space along the way, or adding a mid-level free agent such as Bradley Chubb or Khalil Mack, this is one area POles and the Bears can’t ignore going into 2026.