The Bears seem more likely to add around the edges of their roster than to make a splash before Tuesday’s 3 p.m. deadline to whittle their roster down to 53 players.
The Khalil Mack trade proved to those inside Halas Hall to never say never when it comes to a big trade. But the availability of two edge rushers — the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and the Bengals’ Trey Hendrickson have asked for trades — would require the Bears to pay heavily in terms of draft picks and reworked salaries. Only four teams have less salary cap space than the Bears do this season. Only seven have less in 2026 and only three do in 2027.
If the Bears are going to try to upgrade their depth at running back, edge rusher or offensive tackle, then, it would come in the form of a small trade or a waiver wire move after the deadline. Until then, here’s a look at how the Bears’ 53-man roster shapes up.
OFFENSE (25 keepers/44 players)
Quarterbacks (3/4)
They’re keeping: Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum
On the bubble: Austin Reed
What we’ve learned: As it pertains to Caleb Williams? Not enough. The Bears have watched Williams ride the rollercoaster all training camp, struggling to string together multiple strong practices in a row. The Bears have seen enough from Bagent, whom they rewarded with an extension this week.
The big question: Is Keenum’s leg injury enough to land him on IR to start the season? Regardless of health, he doesn’t figure to play much this season. The Bears value his experience.
Running backs (4/7)
They’re keeping: D’Andre Swift, Roschon Johnson, Travis Homer, Kyle Monangai
On the bubble: Ian Wheeler, Brittain Brown, Royce Freeman
What we’ve learned: If there’s an intriguing player among the backups. It’s Monangai, the rookie who seems to have earned the Bears’ trust with the ball in his hands and when pass-blocking.
The big question: Will Swift have the most lopsided timeshare in the game? All three of his main backups have been hurt for at least a week, leaving Swift — who already was slated for bellcow back duty — without much help.
Wide receivers (6/11)
They’re keeping: Rome Odunze, DJ Moore, Olamide Zaccheaus, Luther Burden III, Devin Duvernay, Maurice Alexander
On the bubble: Tyler Scott, Samori Toure, J.P. Richardson, Jahdae Walker, Miles Boykin
What we’ve learned: The Bears are treating Odunze like a classic No. 1 receiver and Moore like a chess piece, moving him from the slot to the outside to even the running back slot. Zaccheaus, a slot receiver, has been as consistently excellent as any player in camp.
The big question: Does Burden know the details of the playbook — where to line up, when and where to motion and what route to run — enough for his new team to trust him? The second-round pick has been a work-in-progress all camp after missing most of OTAs with a hamstring injury.
Tight ends (3/6)
They’re keeping: Cole Kmet, Colston Loveland, Durham Smythe
On the bubble: Stephen Carlson, Thomas Gordon, Joel Wilson
What we’ve learned: The Bears won’t be shy about throwing to Loveland, their first-round pick. Of the pass-catchers likely to make the team, only Burden has more catches than Loveland’s four.
The big question: How will Kmet and Loveland coexist? Only two play-callers played two tight ends at the same time more than Johnson with the Lions last year.
Offensive line (9/16)
They’re keeping: LT Braxton Jones, LG Joe Thuney, C Drew Dalman, RG Jonah Jackson, RT Darnell Wright, T Ozzy Trapilo, C/G Ryan Bates, G Luke Newman, T Theo Benedet
On the bubble: Kiran Amegadjie, Joshua Miles, Bill Murray, Doug Kramer, Ricky Stromberg, Jordan McFadden, Chris Glaser
What we’ve learned: The Bears wanted a starter to emerge at left tackle by the middle of camp — and it didn’t happen. Jones seems to have won the job, but not with authority, while Trapilo has been moved to second-string right tackle.
The big question: Who are the Bears more likely to keep — Amegadjie, a third-round pick just a year ago who has struggled this preseason, or Benedet, an undrafted player last year who has outplayed him?
DEFENSE (25/43)
Defensive line (10/15)
They’re keeping: DE Montez Sweat, DT Grady Jarrett, DT Gervon Dexter, DE Dayo Odeyingbo, DT Andrew Billings, DT Chris Williams, DT Shemar Turner, DE Austin Booker, DE Daniel Hardy, DE Tanoh Kpassagnon
On the bubble: Zacch Pickens, Jamree Kromah, Jonathan Ford, Xavier Carlton, Dominque Robinson,
What we’ve learned: Unless Sweat and Odeyingbo start winning more pass-rush battles, defensive coordinator Dennis Allen will have to get creative by calling blitzes.
The big question: Will Booker start the season on injured reserve? He has a knee injury that Johnson said Friday will keep him out multiple weeks.
Linebackers (5/8)
They’re keeping: Tremaine Edmunds, TJ Edwards, Noah Sewell, Amen Ogbongbemiga, Ruben Hyppolite II
On the bubble: Swayze Bozeman, Carl Jones Jr, Power Echols
What we’ve learned: The Bears are comfortable playing Edmunds and Edwards at both middle and weak-side spots.
The big question: Can Edmunds take the ball away in games the way he has in practice? Last year he posted only one interception and one fumble recovery.
Cornerbacks (6/12)
They’re keeping: Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, Kyler Gordon, Josh Blackwell, Nahshon Wright, Nick McCloud
On the bubble: Zah Frazier, Terell Smith (out for year with knee injury), Tre Flowers, Mekhi Garner, Jeremiah Walker, Kaleb Hayes
What we’ve learned: Stevenson and Wright spent all training camp battling for a starting job, with the former seeming to pull away in the last week or so.
The big question: Can Johnson make it back from a leg injury by Week 1? The two-time Pro Bowl player hasn’t practiced all camp and will need more than a few token practices to get ready for Justin Jefferson and the Vikings.
Safeties (4/8)
They’re keeping: Jaquan Brisker, Kevin Byard, Jonathan Owens, Elijah Hicks
On the bubble: Tysheem Johnson, Millard Bradford, Alex Cook, Mark Perry
What we’ve learned: The Bears safety room has been the easiest to predict all offseason. With their top four staying healthy, it looks locked in.
The big question: Can Brisker stay healthy? He’s not so much as missed a practice after sitting out 12 games last year with a scary concussion.
SPECIAL TEAMS (3/4)
They’re keeping: K Cairo Santos, P Tory Taylor, LS Scott Daly
On the bubble: LS Luke Elkin
What we’ve learned: Despite doinking one kick and having another blocked Friday night, Santos has looked as strong as ever.
The big question: Is Santos’ increased distance for real, or a mirage that goes away when the weather cools off?
NOTE: The Bears have 91 players on their 90-man roster because Taylor is on the Exempt/International Player list. He will have to be removed from the list by cut day.