The Chicago Bears will head into the 2026 offseason facing a very familiar, very unresolved problem: they still need help on the edge.
Despite having Montez Sweat as the focal point of its pass rush, Chicago has struggled throughout the season when it comes to generating consistent pressure with its front four. When Sweat was neutralized or slid inside protections, the Bears often failed to collapse the pocket.
The Bears signed Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract last offseason, but his first year in Chicago was cut short when he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury during the Bears’ Week 9 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.
Before going down, Odeyingbo started all eight games he played and logged 369 defensive snaps, finishing with 21 tackles, a sack and four quarterback hits, with his lone sack coming in the season opener against Minnesota.
All things considered, Chicago will undoubtedly be in the market for more pass rush help — but Windy City Gridiron’s Jacob Infante has a few players he wants the Bears to stay away from when free agency rolls around.
Why Chicago Bears Shouldn’t Sign DE Kwity Paye in 2026 Free Agency
GettyThe Chicago Bears are being urged not to sign current Indianapolis Colts defensive end Kwity Paye when free agency hits in 2026.
“The Bears should avoid paying top dollar for players like Arnold Ebiketie, Kwity Paye, A.J. Epenesa, and Boye Mafe,” Infante wrote on December 31, adding: “Though the allure might be there because they’re on the younger side, they haven’t been efficient this season.”
Paye is one of the more notable names set to be available because he’s a former first-round pick, and he’ll be 27 years old when free agency opens. On the surface, the current Indianapolis Colts DE looks like a reasonable solution. He has been durable for most of his career, and his pedigree is decent. But a closer look at his recent production reveals why the Bears should tread carefully where he’s concerned.
As Infante noted, Paye’s production declined sharply in 2025. After recording 8.0 sacks in 2024, he has half that total this season with 4.0. His impact plays also became less frequent as the season went on. He has nine QB hits in 16 games, the lowest total of his five-year career.
Paye is coming off a fifth-year option that paid him over $13 million in 2025, which already establishes a baseline for negotiations. Once he reaches the open market, his camp is likely to seek a multi-year deal that averages well into the $15-20 million range. Because the Bears need someone who can consistently win one-on-one matchups, particularly on passing downs, they probably shouldn’t sign him.
Bears Should Also Avoid Seahawks Edge Boye Mafe in 2026 Free Agency
Infante grouped Paye with Mafe for a reason. Both players are young enough to look attractive when free agency hits, but neither produced at a level in 2025 that would justify the contracts they are likely to command. For a Bears team still building toward long-term contention, tying up significant cap space in a questionable edge would limit flexibility elsewhere on the roster.
Mafe, who is set to hit free agency after playing his first four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, has a career-low 2.0 sacks in 16 games (four starts) this year. He has played 51% of Seattle’s defensive snaps, which is down from the 72% he played in 2023 and the 60% he played last year.
Still, his lack of production when on the field should make the Bears wary when free agency hits.
Honestly, with players such as Trey Hendrickson, Jaelan Phillips and (familiar face time!) Khalil Mack all set to be available, Chicago would be better served inking one of them than risking it with either Paye or Mafe.
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