Bears receive bad news regarding key 2026 free-agent addition

Bryant's absence creates a major problem for Chicago, which has significant questions on defense heading into the season. Per Aaron Schatz's Defense-adjusted Value Over Average (DVOA) metric, the Bears, who finished 2025 No. 29 in total defense but first in turnovers forced, are estimated to have the league's worst defense in 2026 (h/t 2026 FTN Football Almanac).

During the offseason, last year's starting safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker left in free agency, as did fellow safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, cornerback Nick McCloud and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds. 

"You take a defense that was bad, lucky and just all of its guys," Bryan Knowles wrote for the 2026 Almanac, "and our model is going to hate it."

Bryant, who ranked No. 10 among safeties in coverage DVOA a season ago, would have been key to making up for those losses, but the Bears will likely have to rely on veteran free-agent signings Cameron Lewis, 29, and Xavier Woods, 31 instead to play alongside 2026 first-round pick Dillon Thieneman in the defensive backfield.

ESPN's Courtney Cronin wrote on Monday about the vision Chicago had for Bryant upon signing him, noting, "The Bears banked on his speed and experience to elevate the secondary while simultaneously helping develop Thieneman ... who is just over a month from his first NFL start."

Bryant's salary structure is another negative factor. Per Spotrac, Bryant has a manageable $5.96M cap number for 2026, but that grows to $17M in each of the two seasons after (2027, 2028), when he could be returning from a yearlong layoff.

With Chicago's defense already a glaring question, the onus will once again be on head coach Ben Johnson's offense to lead the charge. The Bears improved by 7.7 points per game in his first season and may need to take another leap to build on the 11-6 finish and NFC North title.

The impact of Bryant's injury could be felt all season in the Windy City. He would have played a huge role on the unit, but his loss could be felt even more.