A lot of things went right for the Chicago Bears last season. But one thing that backfired was the performance of their interior defenders.
Grady Jarrett had a disappointing first season in Chicago after signing in free agency, and Shemar Turner never found his footing before suffering a torn ACL that ended his season. While Gervon Dexter was solid in his starting role, the Bears had to use their depth more than expected, which led to Chris Williams serving as a reserve.
Things didn’t go terribly for Williams, and there’s a chance the Bears could talk themselves into bringing him back in 2026. Although a return makes sense, it’s probably not the best decision as Chicago tries to get more out of their interior next season.
Bears Should Seek Upside Over a Chris Williams Return This Offseason
The Bears' defensive line could use some attention this offseason. Improving the pass rush is a priority, as Montez Sweat was paired with a disappointing group, including failed free agent signing Dayo Odeyingbo and trade acquisition Joe Tryon-Shoyinka. But you could also argue that the interior of the defensive line could use some reinforcements.
The interior looks fine on paper as Jarrett is likely to return despite a disappointing first year of a three-year, $42.75 million contract. While his first season with the Bears amounted to 39 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and a career-low one tackle for loss, the Bears would eat $17 million in dead money if they decided to cut Jarrett, virtually guaranteeing that he’ll be in the fold for 2026.
Turner is also likely to return from his torn ACL during the early portion of the 2026 season. That said, his rookie year was filled with challenges. According to Pro Football Focus, Turner did not record a single pressure in 38 snaps as a primary defensive tackle and was moved to defensive end for his final three games before suffering his injury in Week 8.
If the Bears want to keep using Turner as a defensive end, that could open a spot for Williams’s return. But the best bet is to look elsewhere to get some younger talent into the fold.
Williams had the highest PFF grade among Bears interior defenders last season, but it was only at 58.7. It was also the only time that he had posted a PFF grade over 50, and he was a liability against the run, making just one stop on 98 snaps in run defense. Those numbers make Williams a cheap return with a $1.2 million projection from Spotrac, but could be used to bring in someone with some more upside.
With Jarrett and Dexter in the starting role, the Bears are probably looking for a middle-tier depth free agent such as D.J. Reader, John Franklin-Myers, or Roy Lopez. Chicago could also look for depth in the middle rounds of April’s draft, which could add a similarly cheap player on a rookie contract with the chance for some upside.
While the Bears could view Williams as a low-risk move, they should be chasing a high reward after getting to the divisional round last season. That could be enough to seek an alternative and give the interior of the defensive line the punch it didn’t have last season.