Chicago Bears 2025 free agency updates: Tracking the latest free agency news and notes

The phones started ringing at 11 a.m. Monday as NFL free agency negotiations are set to begin. Teams began negotiating with free agents before the new league year and free agency officially start Wednesday.

After adding offensive linemen Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney in trades last week, the Bears don’t have as much salary cap space as they did to start the offseason. But general manager Ryan Poles still has a little over $43 million left to spend, the 16th-most in the league according to Spotrac.

Here’s the latest free agency news. Stay here all week long, too, for live updates from Halas Hall and across the league.

Bears reportedly sign defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo

The Bears added to their defensive line when they agreed to terms with defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo on a three-year, $48 million contract. The Chicago Tribune’s Brad Biggs was the first to report the signing.

Odeyingbo started 19 games and played in 61 during his four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, who drafted him in the second round of the 2021 draft out of Vanderbilt. He started in 14 games, a career-high, last year and played in all 17 of the Colts' games the last two season.

Odeyingbo finished sixth on the Colts last season with three sacks and added 17 quarterback hits and forced two fumbles. He had 31 total tackles, seven for a loss.

At 25, Odeyingbo joins the Bears defensive line as Poles looks for an edge rusher to play opposite of Montez Sweat. The Bears released DeMarcus Walker three weeks ago and Poles could continue to add at the position in free agency and next month’s draft.

Justin Fields heading to New York Jets

Former Bears quarterback Justin Fields is reportedly heading to New York where he’ll play with the Jets. Fields signed a two-year, $40 million deal, according to NFL Network.

The Bears traded their former 2021 first-round pick to the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason for a sixth-round pick. Poles traded away Fields, whom he inherited from former general manager Ryan Pace, after the Bears earned the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 draft.

Fields played in 10 games, starting six, for Pittsburgh last season and threw for 1,106 yards with five touchdowns and one interception. The Steelers chose to have Russell Wilson be their starting quarterback during their run to the playoffs, where the lost in the wild card round.

Sam Darnold lands in Seattle

The top quarterback option was taken off the board Monday when the Seattle Seahawks agreed to terms with San Darnold. The two agreed on a three-year, $100.5 million contract, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Darnold leaves the NFC North and the Minnesota Vikings after an impressive comeback season. Minnesota will now likely look to retain Daniel Jones or add another veteran quarterback to pair with Nazareth alumnus J.J. McCarthy as he returns from a torn MCL that kept him from playing during his rookie year.

Bears expected to sign center Drew Dalman

The Bears wasted little time in adding to their offensive line Monday morning and are expected to sign the top center in free agency Drew Dalman to a three-year, $42 million deal according to the NFL Network. Dalman will be the NFL’s second-highest paid center when he officially signs his deal Wednesday.

Dalman is coming off a season where he impressed when he played. Dalman allowed 13 pressures and two sacks in nine games. He missed eight games last season with a high-ankle sprain.

The Falcons were one of the top rushing teams in the league with Dalman manning the center position. Atlanta averaged 130.5 rushing yards per game, led by top back Bijan Robinson, and 2,219 total rushing yards.

Dalman started 40 games and played in 57 since the Atlanta Falcons drafted him in the fourth round in 2021. He became the team’s starting center in 2022.

The signing is another addition in a complete makeover of the offensive line. Poles has now added three likely starting interior offensive linemen in a week with the additions of him, Thuney and Jackson.

Haason Reddick heading to Buccaneers

A top pass rusher was off the board a few minutes after the legal tampering period started Monday morning. Haason Reddick reportedly signed a one-year, $14 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Reddick was one of the league’s edge rushers with the Philadelphia Eagles before the Jets traded for Reddick in April. He request a trade from his new team in August and missed the team’s first six games of the year. He finished the year with one sack and three quarterback hits in 10 games.

Reddick was an option for Poles to sign and put on the defensive line opposite of Sweat. Now Poles will need to look elsewhere for a pass rusher.

Khalil Mack re-signs with Chargers

A Bears-Khalil Mack reunion won’t happen after Mack re-signed with the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday before the start of the legal tampering period. Mack reportedly signed a one-year, $18 million deal.

A reunion between the two seemed possible as Poles will try to add a defensive end to put opposite of Sweat during the offseason. Mack came off his third straight Pro Bowl season where he had six sacks and 15 quarterback hits to go along with 39 tackles.

Mack originally played for the Bears from 2018 to 2021. Former Bears general manager Ryan Pace made a splash in 2018 when he traded a couple first-round draft picks as well as a third- and sixth-round pick for Mack.

During his time with the Bears, Mack made an instant impact during his first year and a half before injuries held him back. Mack was a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowler in Chicago and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting in his first season in Chicago in 2018.

Poles traded Mack to the Chargers in 2022 for a second- and sixth-round pick as he took over and tried to replenish his draft capital. He’ll now try to add to his defensive line both in free agency and in the draft.

What have the Bears already done before free agency?

Poles didn’t wait for the start of free agency to begin addressing the Bears' biggest need of the offseason: offensive linemen.

He first traded a 2025 sixth-round pick to the Los Angeles Rams on Tuesday for veteran offensive lineman Jonah Jackson. The next day, Poles made another major move when he sent a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for All-Pro guard Joe Thuney. Neither deal cannot be official until Wednesday.

The moves showed Poles' dedication to building an offensive line that can protect quarterback Caleb Williams. It also might indicate what he thinks of the offensive linemen set to hit the free agent market.

The NFL salary cap will increase by $23.8 million compared to last year, giving teams ample money to negotiate with free agents. That could create “bidding wars” for free agents that Poles might not want to take part in.

Poles signed tight end Durham Smythe on Thursday and re-signed special teams ace Josh Blackwell and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga each to new two-year deals. He also decided to not tender Lake Zurich-native linebacker Zach Sanborn and allow him to test free agency.

Who will the Bears target in free agency?

Since taking over as general manager in 2022, Poles has shown a willingness to spend money but also be selective.

In 2023, he signed linebacker Tremaine Edmunds (four years, $72 million), linebacker TJ Edwards (three years, $19.5 million), defensive end DeMarcus Walker (three years, $21 million) and guard Nate Davis (three years, $30 million). Walker and Davis are no longer with the team.

Last offseason, Poles surprised some when he opened the negotiating period by signing running back D’Andre Swift to a three-year, $24.5 million deal. He also signed tight end Gerald Everett, who is no longer with the team, and traded for wide receiver Keenan Allen.

Despite the additions on the offensive line last week, Poles will likely still try to add to the group. Both Poles and new Bears head coach Ben Johnson emphasized the importance of having depth at the position. He’ll also look to add to the defensive line and wide receivers group.

Here’s a look at the Bears' top positions of need heading into free agency.

Who are the top free agents?

Conversations in the NFL always start with the quarterback position and that will be the case this offseason, even if there aren’t too many top options.

Sam Darnold will be the top target for many teams that need a quarterback after a strong comeback season. The Minnesota Vikings decided not to use the franchise or transition tag him.

Other available quarterbacks will be former Bear Justin Fields, former Green Bay Packer Aaron Rodgers as well as Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.

The most robust markets will be at cornerback and wide receiver. Detroit’s Carlton Davis, San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward, the New York Jets' D.J. Reed and the Vikings' Bryon Murphy are all top cornerback options. Tampa Bay’s Chris Godwin, Buffalo’s Amari Cooper and Houston’s Stefon Diggs headline a deep wide receivers group.

The defensive end market also features plenty of top talent looking for a pass rusher. The Philadelphia Eagles' Josh Sweat will be on the top of everyone’s list after he won a Super Bowl in February. Teams can also choose from Haason Reddick (New York Jets) and Khalil Mack (Los Angeles Chargers), to name a few.