Although the true festivities of the 2026 NFL Draft Combine won’t kick off until Thursday, the fun of press conferences, conversations about the upcoming offseason, and trade rumors are in full swing. For the first time in quite a while, the Chicago Bears are not expected to be the talk of the week. Coming off an 11-win season, the Bears will be heading into the acquisition period looking to build on what they accomplished last season, rather than spending big and picking high in late April’s draft.
While this concept might be foreign to most fans, it should be embraced. Instead of stealing all the headlines and “winning the offseason,” the team can be more focused on improving its division-winning roster and figuring out how to take the next step to a Super Bowl appearance. On Tuesday morning, both general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson met with the media for 15-minute sessions. With those pressers and some additional side sessions in the books, it’s time to digest what was said and form some additional expectations for the upcoming offseason in five takeaways, combine edition.
1. Despite early reports of the Bears not receiving compensatory picks for the departure of Ian Cunningham, both general manager Ryan Poles and Cunningham himself pushed back on that “decision” on Tuesday.
This has been a saga that has been one of the early offseason headlines in Chicago, especially for Bears fans. Since coming over from Philadelphia five offseasons ago, Cunningham has been well-thought of as a general manager in waiting. Despite being a finalist for multiple jobs over the years, it took until this year for Cunningham to finally land a head role.
The issue: Because of the Atlanta Falcons’ unique front-office structure, the league does not consider their general manager the “lead football decision-maker.” Thus, it has been reported by multiple outlets that the Bears will not receive a pair of third-round compensatory selections for Cunningham.
Early on Monday morning, Cunningham made his Falcons debut at the combine. During his 15-minute presser, he spoke on multiple topics, including confirming that the team would be releasing veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins, his plans for the upcoming offseason, and more. Toward the end of his time at the podium, he was asked about the Bears not receiving those compensatory picks. “It was always my interpretation that if a general manager gets hired, that team would receive two third-round picks. I’m the general manager. I was hired. I would think that they (the Bears) would get two third-round picks.” He went on to say that without Poles and the Bears, he would not have been in the position he’s currently in.
Shortly after, Poles was asked about the situation, and while he still finds the Rooney Rule odd, he says they have been communicating through the “right channels” with the league and are still waiting to hear back. Of note, he said they have received no official word from the league that they won’t be receiving picks, which contradicts multiple other reports stating that the team was aware (and, to a lesser extent, accepting) that they would not receive compensation for Cunningham’s departure.
While nothing is certain, it is noteworthy that both Cunningham and Poles felt the same about the situation. From a pure optics standpoint, it stands to reason that two black executives speaking out against the current rule (due to each team’s different structure) could indeed force the NFL’s hand in awarding the Bears compensation. With two months until the draft, there’s still time for this to work out in Chicago’s favor, so stay tuned.
2. Last week, 98.7 FM Phoenix’s John Gambadoro reported that the Arizona Cardinals had shown interest in backup quarterback Tyson Bagent. Poles addressed those rumors, and they appear to be a real consideration.
If we’re being honest, the talking point of trading Bagent due to last week’s report felt somewhat overplayed. That was until both Poles and head coach Ben Johnson failed to shoot down the possibility.
Poles was asked about it about an hour before Johnson took the stage, but both men seemed to share similar feelings. While it’s clear the team values their young backup quarterback, there are multiple considerations that the team will need to weigh over the next few weeks before making a final decision.
The first of which comes down to what is best for the organization. Bagent, who was originally signed as an undrafted free agent, came into the league impressively. When initially signed, he felt like a prime practice squad candidate. Instead, worked his way up the depth chart and eventually earned the backup role to Justin Fields, pushing aside veteran P.J. Walker, who had signed a quality free agent deal just months before. On one hand, having a capable backup quarterback is worth quite a bit. Especially one like Bagent, who knows the system and is under cheap control for the next two years. On paper, it’s hard to put an exact value on that when it comes to evaluation compensation via a trade. Does that come down to a fourth-round pick? Or something higher, like a third-round selection? Once that’s established, finding a team that is willing to pay that price for a player who has primarily shown his value in preseason is an entirely different discussion.
Next, the team must figure out what is best for Bagent. It’s fair to wonder if he’s already come to the team and expressed his desire to earn a starting role elsewhere. Despite signing a two-year, $10 million extension last season, the Bears would be on the hook for just $1 million in dead space if he were traded before June 1st, while saving $3.75 million in the process. With a weak draft class and a limited number of proven veterans set to hit the market, rebuilding teams like the Cardinals, Browns, and Dolphins could make sense as destinations.
Finally, what will the replacement cost for Bagent be? As of now, Chicago has just the two quarterbacks under contract, which means that they’ll need to spend either a draft resource or (more likely) additional cap space on a veteran replacement. Players who could make sense range from names like Tyrod Taylor, Tyler Huntley, Marcus Mariota, or maybe even someone like Gardner Minshew. They could also opt to bring back Case Keenum for another year, but at minimum, it’s fair to believe this would be a two-year replacement plan. Could the team replace Bagent at a similar cost to what they’d be saving with Bagent? That’s something that Poles and company are in the process of snuffing out.
It’s clear that both Poles and Johnson truly value Bagent, but the fact that they didn’t flat-out shoot down any talk of trading him should tell fans that they are at least considering it. While it won’t make or break their offseason, it’s an interesting wrinkle to add to an already complex offseason puzzle that this organization must successfully solve to take the next step in 2026.
3. Las Vegas Raiders’ general manager John Spytek expects DE Maxx Crosby to remain with the team in 2026. So, what now?
Any time a general manager or head coach speaks at this time of year, everyone does their best to decode “lying season” from the actual truth. In the case of Crosby and the Raiders, Spytek didn’t exactly clear things up without a shadow of a doubt. Of course, there will always be situations where a team changes its mind as the season approaches. That’s how the Bears landed Khalil Mack seven years ago, and how the Packers were able to pry away Micah Parsons on the eve of last year’s season opener.
That said, the Raiders find themselves in a tough spot. They need to fully tear down their roster and rebuild it from the studs. Sure, they’ve got pieces, but every team does. With Las Vegas holding the top pick, all signs point to them drafting their quarterback of the future, Fernando Mendonza, in late April. Assuming that happens, the Raiders’ focus, at least in 2026, needs to be on offense. The Bears and Titans have provided the exact blueprint for what not to do with a rookie quarterback, which the Raiders need to avoid at all costs.
With that in mind, one way they can kick-start the rebuild is to sell as many valuable pieces as possible. On paper, they don’t have many (that would make sense), which means that Crosby might be their biggest trade chip. Crosby will turn 29 before the start of the season and has as much, if not more, mileage than any defensive end his age and experience. Even in a best-case scenario, the Raiders are two, maybe three years out for contending for anything of note. Does it make sense to hold onto a player that will be exiting his prime right when they (potentially) get good again? That’s something that Spytek and first-year head coach Klint Kubiak must determine soon.
Crosby’s knee procedure complicates matters even more when it comes to a potential timeline for a trade. At this point, it’s easy to imagine that well over half the league would be interested in his services. Still, for a team like the Bears, which might need more immediate answers along the defensive line, it’s fair to question whether or not the timeline for a potential trade would make sense, assuming the Raiders trade him at all this offseason.
Not only would Chicago need to give up high-value draft compensation in return, but with the team being tighter against the cap, a move like this would have a domino effect on their flexibility in future years. That’s something Poles has addressed a few times over his last few press conferences, including Tuesday. With a mega contract on the horizon for quarterback Caleb Williams, how the front office handles their cap space will be extremely important to their future success.
4. Defensive End deeper than Defensive Tackle for the 2026 class? Poles seems to believe so.
While it may still be early in the draft process for most fans, NFL teams have spent months evaluating the upcoming class and already have a good idea of where their board stacks in terms of talent. Now, obviously, there’s still plenty in play, including medicals, interviews, and the coaching staff’s evaluations of these players, but they are far from “just starting” like most of us.
Some will put too much weight on test scores, while others will continue to add valuable information to their overall evaluations. The Bears, like most NFL teams, are putting the final touches on their evaluations and formulating a plan for April. Some of that will be affected by free agency, but for the most part, the draft is always viewed with a longer-term perspective. On Tuesday, Poles confirmed that their process will not change. They’ll continue to take a “best player available” approach, while understanding that their board might be a little more clumped together at the back-end of each round.
Even if fans shouldn’t expect a team to give away their approach to the offseason, combine press conferences are usually where you’ll catch general managers at their most “honest” points in the process. While Poles didn’t give away much, he did mention that he sees defensive end as a deeper position group than defensive tackle. There are multiple ways of digesting this information, but it seems clear that both positions will be in play early in April’s draft. Some of that will be affected by their free-agent approach, but the trenches will remain a point of emphasis for this team moving forward.
Additionally, Poles noted they will look to add more speed on the defensive side of the ball. While it might seem obvious given their pending free agents, Johnson expects there to be some retooling in the defensive backfield. It sounds like the plan is still to retain All-Pro safety Kevin Byard, but even if they do, they’ll have multiple spots at both safety and one or two at cornerback to figure out in the coming months.
We still don’t have much clarity on linebacker Tremaine Edmunds’ future, but barring a surprise, it’s hard to imagine many scenarios where they keep him under contract for what he’s owed in 2026. Between Edmunds’ likely departure and T.J. Edwards coming back from a serious leg injury, it stands to reason that we could see multiple new faces in the linebacker room next season.
5a. Questions about current veterans under contract remain unanswered as free agency approaches.
On the surface, the majority of the Bears’ cap-clearing moves will need to come from restructures. That said, there are multiple veterans under contract for 2026 that could provide instant cap relief if released. Although nobody should expect a general manager to reveal all his plans, there was very little clarified in Poles’ multiple media appearances on Tuesday.
In a side session with Chicago media, Poles said they value both running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Cole Kmet. It sounded like the plan was to keep both players around, but it’s worth wondering whether short-term extensions could be in play to lower each player’s cap charge for the upcoming season.
With no clarity of Edmunds’ future, the other player that has caught plenty of attention is receiver D.J. Moore. Although he recently signed a four-year extension, logical deduction has led many to wonder if he could be on the trading block heading into the offseason. “We want him here. We think highly of him, but now is the time to look at all the scenarios that will allow us to put the best team out there. He’s a guy we want here, but we have to look at all the scenarios.” Poles said in a side session. Clear as mud, right?
Most fans aren’t used to offseasons where the team has to shuffle around money to make things work, but if all goes well, this will become the new normal. Poles has spoken extensively about Matt Feinstein, their “cap guy”, and how detail-oriented he is. It sounds like they have a good plan in place not only for this offseason but also for the future. That said, this front office hasn’t been one to use basic restructuring to create cap space, so, in some ways, this will be a new concept they’ll have to introduce into the offseason planning. They can’t keep everyone, and they won’t. The same could be said in free agency, where they can sign whoever they want. Suffice to say, the front office will need to be calculated in how they manage the cap for this year and beyond. Cutting players is the easiest and most “cost-effective” way of clearing space, while restructures come with an immediate pay-off, they leave behind dead money in future years, which will, in turn, compromise their future cap flexibility. It’s a fine line and one that the best teams toe each and every year.
While I’m not expecting any grand moves this offseason, fans should prepare for a few surprises. Whether that comes in the form of surprise cuts, trading away players, or a blockbuster deal to bring in outside talent, nothing is off the table, even if their moves will need to be made in moderation in comparison to the last few offseasons.
Buckle up, Bears fans. Free agency is upon us, and we’re able to see their plan take shape.
5b. Any questions about the offensive line will start and end at left tackle.
In Tuesday afternoon’s side session, Poles was asked more in-depth about the team’s plans at left tackle. Not only did he rule out the possibility of Joe Thuney sliding out there full-time, but he confirmed that he wants to keep Darnell Wright and Jonah Jackson on the right side. With Ozzy Trapilo expected to miss the bulk of next season, that leaves another sizable hole for the team to fill in the coming months.
Johnson noted that they’ve been deep into discussions with how they will attack it, whether that’s internally, re-signing someone like Braxton Jones, in free agency, or the draft. No matter their decision, a move (or two) will need to be made. Of note, Poles did say that the expectation is that once Trapilo returns, they expect him back at full strength, which means that any move made this season might be with that in mind. A free agent addition might make the most sense if they don’t bring Jones back for another year, but the market is thin.
Outside of the defensive line, this might be the one area of the roster that requires the most attention, and quite possibly, patience.