Despite exceeding expectations in head coach Ben Johnson's first season, the Chicago Bears were hampered by defensive issues all season. The Bears were tied for the 22nd-most points per game allowed (24.3 PPG) and for the seventh-fewest sacks (35), two areas that must be addressed during the offseason if they want to back up their 2025 results or even exceed them.
The Bears have the 25th overall pick in April's draft, but any hopes they might have of improving the pass rush may reside in free agency. According to NFL insider Jordan Schultz, the San Francisco 49ers "are not planning to tender (defensive tackle) Kalia Davis as an RFA", meaning the 17-game starter for the 49ers' defense will now become a free agent.
With Andrew Billings on his way out and Shemar Turner appearing in only five games during his rookie season after tearing his ACL in the Week 8 loss to the Baltimore Ravens, Chicago needs to prioritize adding a cheap veteran with starting DT Grady Jarrett set to turn 33 in April.
Although his price certainly went up after a career-best season in 2025, Davis could be someone the Bears look into.
Bears Could Pursue Kalia Davis in Free Agency
With the defense likely set to undergo some changes following a subpar 2025 season, no one is immune to being dismissed, including safety Kevin Byard, the league-leader in interceptions (seven). However, with it sounding more likely each day that he will return, it is even more important for Chicago to focus on bringing in the best free agents it can find for a reasonable price.
Until the 2025 season, Davis had never appeared in more than 13 games or surpassed 12 total tackles. That all changed last season when he finished off the last of his four-year, $3.8 million rookie deal with 28 tackles, 0.5 sacks, three passes defended, and 12 run stops. He was by no means near the top of the stat sheet for the 49ers, but his improvements and overall production throughout a full 17-game schedule should not go unnoticed and will likely help him earn a much higher deal.
According to OverTheCap, the Bears are currently $7.1 million over the salary cap. Someone the Bears have already been pursuing is former Bear and longtime veteran Khalil Mack, who did not have an issue taking a pay cut to stay with the Los Angeles Chargers last season. That may ultimately be a sign that he is not willing to leave the Chargers, which could further complicate things for Chicago and put even more pressure on it to find the right fits in free agency.
With so much uncertainty surrounding the defensive front, either due to a lackluster season or injury concerns, it would make sense for the Bears to at least give Davis a thought. After all, with Jarrett not getting any younger and the unknowns surrounding Turner, who is back at square one after the Gervon Dexter Sr. trade rumors were squashed, the Bears need to do all they can to establish a more formidable front that can wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks.
There is still plenty of time for everything to work itself out, but if Chicago is going to build off its 2025 success, creating more pressure should be at the top of the list. Someone like Davis may not be enough by himself, but if the Bears can put the right deal together and feel like he would be a good fit, he may not be worth passing up.