The Chicago Bears didn’t just surprise the NFL in 2025 — they changed how the league views them.
A franchise long defined by rebuilds and resets now enters 2026 with something far more dangerous: expectations. After winning the NFC North and taking a major step forward under Ben Johnson, the Bears are no longer content with “progress.” The conversation has shifted to championships.
That puts pressure squarely on general manager Ryan Poles.
If Chicago is serious about turning a breakthrough season into a legitimate Super Bowl run, the defense must take another leap. Dennis Allen’s unit showed resilience in 2025, but it often relied on bending rather than dominating. To compete with the league’s elite offenses in January, that margin won’t be enough.
That’s why the Bears being linked to defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers in the 2026 free-agent market makes so much sense.
Franklin-Myers won’t dominate headlines. He doesn’t come with Pro Bowl buzz or All-Pro credentials. What he brings instead is something Poles has consistently valued: reliability, versatility, and disruption that shows up snap after snap.
Since joining the Denver Broncos in 2024, Franklin-Myers has revitalized his career under defensive coordinator Vance Joseph. Over the last two seasons, he’s recorded 14.5 sacks — including a career-high 7.5 in 2025 — along with 65 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, 44 pressures, and 33 quarterback hits.
That production matters, but the context matters more.
Franklin-Myers is the kind of defensive lineman offenses can’t ignore — but also can’t easily scheme around.
At 6-foot-4 and 288 pounds, he has the flexibility to line up both on the edge and inside, creating mismatches depending on the front and situation. Double-teaming him often comes at a cost elsewhere, which is why he’s viewed as a “glue piece” rather than a traditional star.
Bleacher Report’s Alex Kay highlighted that exact appeal.
“At 6’4″, 288 pounds, he can line up at both the defensive end and defensive tackle spots,” Kay wrote. “That versatility, coupled with an unstoppable motor, allows him to thrive in whatever role he’s tasked with.”
For the Bears, that versatility would be invaluable.
Chicago’s defensive front already has promising pieces, but adding Franklin-Myers would give Allen the flexibility to move players around without sacrificing pressure. It would also reduce the burden on younger defenders, allowing them to play faster and more aggressively — a hallmark of elite defenses.
There’s also the financial side.
Franklin-Myers is projected to command a contract in the $15 million per year range. For a Bears team with cap flexibility and a young quarterback on a rookie deal, that price fits neatly into a “win-now” window without mortgaging the future.
At 29 years old, Franklin-Myers isn’t the youngest option on the market. But his recent production suggests he has plenty left in the tank — especially for a team that doesn’t need him to be the star, only a force multiplier.
And that’s the key distinction.
Chicago doesn’t need splashy. It needs dependable violence up front.
If Poles follows through on targeting players like Franklin-Myers, it would signal that the Bears understand where they are in the team-building cycle. The foundation is set. The quarterback is real. The coaching staff is aligned.
Now comes the hard part: turning promise into dominance.
Adding a $15 million defensive lineman may not win headlines in March — but it could win games in January.
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