Here are the Chicago Bears' contracts to keep in mind heading into the 2025 offseason
CHICAGO - The Chicago Bears' 2024 season is coming to a close. With it comes an offseason of change.
The Bears will hire a new coach, and when they do, it'll bring a new offense and defense to Halas Hall. That could shake up the roster a bit.
Here are the Chicago Bears players, and their contracts, to keep in mind as the 2024 season comes to a close. We'll start with the players who will be impending free agents after this season ends.
Chicago Bears contracts expiring at the end of the 2024 season
Here are the players who contributed the most to the 2024 season that have expiring contracts at the end of this season.
- WR Keenan Allen
- OL Teven Jenkins
- RB Travis Homer
- OL Larry Borom
- DE Darrell Taylor
- C Coleman Shelton
- DB Jaylon Jones
- OLB Jack Sanborn
- LB Amen Ogbongbemiga
- OL Matt Pryor
- TE Marcedes Lewis
- LS Patrick Scales
- LS Scott Daly
- DT Byron Cowart
- DB Josh Blackwell
- DE Daniel Hardy
- DT Chris Williams
- KR/PR Deandre Carter
- OL Doug Kramer
CHICAGO, IL - SEPTEMBER 8: Wide receiver Keenan Allen #13 of the Chicago Bears stands on the field prior to an NFL football game against the Tennessee Titans, at Soldier Field on September 8, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty
Here are the reserve players that have expiring contracts after this season.
- WR Nsimba Webster
- WR Collin Johnson
- DB Tarvarius Moore
- DB Ameer Speed
- OL Jake Curhan
- RB Darrynton Evans
- S Adrian Colbert
- DE Jack Martin
- S Douglas Coleman
- OL Bill Murray
- DT Jonathan Ford
- TE Stephen Carlson
The biggest names on this list are Allen, Jenkins, Sanborn, Pryor and Scales. It remains to be seen if the Bears decide to resign Allen. That's a decision Poles will have to make in the coming months. Allen offered an important veteran presence in the Bears' receiver room that included rookie Rome Odunze. But, he also missed two games with a heel injury and has six drops on the season, which is the third-most in his career. Given how productive Allen has been in his career, it's safe to assume any struggles this year aren't the norm. It depends if the Bears and Allen can agree on a price.
The other players who have a good chance of returning are Carter, Pryor, Sanborn and Jones. Sanborn was an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin and has been a dependable reserve behind TJ Edwards and Tremaine Edmunds. Pryor was put in the starting lineup during the season and can play multiple positions. Blackwell is also someone that can be expected to return. He's made good plays on defense and special teams.
One of the most interesting decisions to come is what the Bears decide to do at long snapper. Scales has been recovering from an injury that kept him out all season. Daly, who played all season in his place, has been steady. He's earned another NFL contract, be it in Chicago or elsewhere. Ogbongbemiga and Hardy have also been steady players on special teams which could help their case if they want to stay in Chicago.
When it comes to Borom and Jenkins, it feels likely the Bears could let them walk under a new coaching staff. Jenkins has been injured in each of his first four seasons in the NFL. A fresh start elsewhere might be what he needs. Borom was drafted by ex-Bears GM Ryan Pace; he could also need a fresh start.
Players like Taylor, Williams and Coward depend on the defensive scheme the Bears will have next under their next head coach. Williams was brought in during training camp because the Bears needed depth at defensive tackle and Williams was familiar with Matt Eberflus' defense.
CLEVELAND, OHIO - DECEMBER 17: Cairo Santos #8 of the Chicago Bears kicks a 41-yard field goal during the second half against the Cleveland Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium on December 17, 2023 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Nick Cammett/Diamond Ima
Chicago Bears players under contract in 2025 the Bears need to make decisions on
These players will be under contract at the start of the 2025 NFL league year, however the Bears will need to make a decision to either keep or move on from them:
- K Cairo Santos
- OL Ryan Bates
- TE Gerald Everett
- LB Tremaine Edmunds
- DE Dominique Robinson
- DT Zacch Pickens
The Bears need to take a look at players like Everett and Edmunds. The two are veterans but were signed because of how Everett fit into Shane Waldron's offense and how Edmunds fit into Eberflus' defense. Everett is under contract through 2025 and Edmunds is under contract until 2026. Edmunds will most likely stay because his dead cap number is $30.5 million as a post-June 1 cut and $35.4 million as a pre-June 1 cut. He's too expensive and too talented to move on from because of a scheme fit. Everett's dead cap number as a post-June 1 cut is $2 million, and it would save the Bears $3.4 million. Still, if Marcedes Lewis departs or retires then it wouldn't be a bad idea to have Everett in the tight end room.
Bates, Robinson and Pickens are different conversations. Bates was competing for the starting center job, but missed a lot of time with a concussion and shoulder injury which landed him on injured reserve twice this season on two separate occasions. However, with only four offensive linemen under contract in 2025 (Bates, Braxton Jones, Darnell Wright and Kiran Amegadije) it might be worth trusting Bates as a veteran presence on the 2025 roster where the Bears might have multiple rookie offensive linemen to acclimate to the NFL.
Pickens and Robinson have been healthy scratches at different points this season but both have made plays when they've seen the field. Pickens recorded a sack and Robinson has blocked a punt on special teams. Still, they haven't done enough to secure long-term futures with the Bears. Pickens might be given more grace as a former third-round pick who could flourish under a new coaching staff.
The biggest conversation has to be what the Bears might do with Santos. He's kicked in the league for 10 seasons and is on his second stint with the Bears. In a league that has kickers nailing 50+ yard field goals with ease and pushing the 60-yard barrier, it raised questions when Interim head coach Thomas Brown said he didn't attempt a 58-yard field goal with Santos on fourth down against Seattle in a 6-3 game because it was out of Santos' range. He's also struggled with getting kicks up, which is a reason why his 46-yard potential game-winning field goal was blocked by the Packers. Still, Santos is under contract until 2027 and has hit 83 percent of his field goals. Thinking about moving on to a kicker with a bigger leg isn't out of the question, but Santos is proven to be dependable from closer range and the Bears know too well how a kicking competition doesn't always result in a kicker as accurate as Santos.