It was evident in the playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams that the Chicago Bears must learn to control the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball if they want to cross the finish line next year. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Ben Johnson took a step in the right direction last year with their overhaul of the offensive line. Now they must see if they can duplicate that success on defense.<\/p>\n
Not to mention they must also address other problematic areas at safety and linebacker. It isn\u2019t an easy process, but this is one way they could go about it.<\/p>\n
The latest Chicago Bears 2026 mock offseason shifts focus to development.<\/p>\n
Trade:<\/p>\n
RB D\u2019Andre Swift and 7th round pick to Kansas City for a 5th round pick<\/p>\n
\ud83d\udd25 Subscribe to the Untold Chicago YouTube channel<\/a> to hear Chicago legends tell stories you\u2019ve never seen in headlines \u2014 real moments, real experiences, straight from the athletes themselves.<\/p>\n Eric Bieniemy just got the best season out of D\u2019Andre Swift in his career. Kansas City needs running back help. A reunion between the two could be helpful for both sides. Meanwhile, the Bears improved their draft situation while allowing Johnson to possibly retool the running back room more to his liking.<\/p>\n Cuts\/Restructures:<\/p>\n Re-signings:<\/p>\n Free agency:RB Travis Etienne \u2013 3-year deal for $21 millionLB Justin Strnad \u2013 2-year deal for $8 millionDT John Franklin-Myers \u2013 2-year deal for $15 million ($3.76 million cap hit in 2026)<\/p>\n The Bears have been connected to Etienne multiple times since last offseason. It is evident that somebody inside Halas Hall is a big fan. It is easy to see why with his great mix of athleticism, speed, and contact balance. Strnad is coming off a standout season in Denver, where he recorded 4.5 sacks despite playing only part-time. His teammate, Franklin-Myers, was among the most disruptive interior rushers in the league.<\/p>\n The Draft:<\/p>\n Trade: 25th pick to New England for 31st pick and 3rd round pick<\/p>\n 1st Round (via NE) \u2013 Christen Miller, DT, Georgia<\/p>\n The comparisons to Kenny Clark are plenty valid. Miller probably won\u2019t overwhelm you with his pass rush skills, even though he\u2019s better than you think. His calling card is outstanding awareness and strength to plug gaps in the middle, making it incredibly difficult to run the ball anywhere in his vicinity. Andrew Billings is a free agent and the Bears have struggled to stop the run for years. Miller is a big step in fixing that.<\/p>\n 2nd Round \u2013 Akheem Mesidor, EDGE, Miami<\/p>\n Mark this down. If Mesidor weren\u2019t already 24 years old, he would likely be a high 1st round pick. He was that dominant this season for the Hurricanes. His mix of power, quickness, and insanely hot motor made him the bane of all offensive tackles everywhere. Getting him in the 2nd round is a massive coup for the Bears. While older for a rookie, he\u2019s highly experienced and can play immediately.<\/p>\n Akheem Mesidor fighting through three blocks to help make the stop on the goaline. I will be comping him to a SCUD missile both because of burst\/physicality and age. pic.twitter.com\/PLY7qQ7stC<\/a><\/p>\n