3 Bears That Must Be Re-Signed Immediately This Offseason

The Chicago Bears are going to be operating with a unique sense of urgency in the 2025 offseason thanks to the delicate situation at hand for the franchise.

Not only are the Bears way behind everyone else in their division right now, but they are the only team that doesn't have a long-term head coach in place or a GM who probably isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

If Ryan Poles wants to stick around in Chicago beyond this year, he's got to pull all the right strings in the 2025 offseason to properly surround young quarterback Caleb Williams with talent.

And entering the 2025 offseason, Chicago has a boatload of unrestricted free agents whose future with the organization may depend upon who gets hired as the team's next head coach. Regardless of who is hired, there will be some key free agents this team has to re-sign and bring back into the fold this coming season.

But who?

1. Chris Williams, Defensive Line (Restricted Free Agent)

One of the Bears' most critical in-house free agents is actually a guy who carries the "restricted" free agent label: Defensive lineman Chris Williams.

Williams was acquired in 2024 by the Bears in a trade with the Cleveland Browns, which paid huge dividends for Chicago. Despite playing less than 40 percent of the defensive snaps in 2024, Williams finished in the top five on the Bears in QB hits (seven) and managed to add three sacks.

Because restricted free agent tenders can be a little tricky, the Bears might have to treat Williams as though he's an unrestricted free agent as opposed to a restricted one. There are usually some benefits based on using the "original round tender" on restricted free agents. But since Williams was originally undrafted, it means a team could make him an offer sheet and the Bears would get nothing in return should they decide not to match.

You've got to be fortified and deep in the trenches and Williams helps the Bears do exactly that.