The legal tampering period officially opened up on Monday, and the Chicago Bears were active in the chase. They added safety Coby Bryant, defensive lineman Neville Gallimore, linebacker Devin Bush, and extended D'Marco Jackson.
And while they were making moves, some key players left the Detroit Lions. That list included linebacker Alex Anzalone, for whom the writing was on the wall about his potential exit, and defensive tackle Roy Lopez. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that the Arizona Cardinals gave Lopez a two-year, $11.5 million deal, with $7 million guaranteed.
With a division rival losing a valuable depth piece along the interior, Chicago has be to thrilled about the news.
Bears Happy to See Roy Lopez Leave Lions in Free Agency
This is a reunion of sorts for Lopez, who played two seasons (2023-2024) with the Cardinals. Nonetheless, he was a nice depth option for the Lions. In 17 games, he had 30 total tackles with a career-high five QB hits and two sacks in 2025. He also totaled 13 pressures.
On PFF, Lopez finished with a 68.7 overall grade (31st among 134 graded defensive linemen), 63.6 pass-rush grade (60th among 134 graded defensive linemen), and a 68.9 run defense grade (18th among 134 graded defensive linemen.
While he didn't put up any massive numbers, the Bears want the Lions to lose as many quality players as possible. Chicago won the division in 2025 and will look to repeat as champs in 2026. The Lions are one of the biggest hurdles standing in their way.
The Lions still have Alim McNeill and Tyleik Williams as their top two defensive tackles in that room, but neither player graded out well on PFF. Both guys had a 62 or lower overall grade in 2025, while each had lower run defense grades in comparison to Lopez.
And considering how well the Bears ran the ball last season, this is a welcome sign. In the two games against Detroit last season, Chicago combined for 199 rushing yards and one rushing score.
The Lions now have a hole that they need to fill, and it's not guaranteed that they will find a suitable replacement. Meanwhile, for a Bears team that added to several spots on Day 1 of free agency, this is what you want to see. Lopez isn't a star, but he still found success in the Motor City. And with him landing elsewhere, Chicago won't have to see the veteran twice a year going forward.
Considering the contract he got from the Cardinals, Detroit was better off bringing him back. But instead, they let Lopez walk, and they'll feel the repercussions in 2026.