A new head coach means more roster changes than usual for the 2025 Chicago Bears. With 31 pending free agents, there’s plenty of room to bring in talent for Ben Johnson’s offense or Dennis Allen’s defense.
This is the first installment of my 13-part series on roster turnover, starting with the quarterback position. Over the next few weeks, I’ll break down each position group, analyzing current contracts, potential cap casualties, and possible free-agent or draft additions.
Williams had the full rookie quarterback experience in 2024. He started with a season-low 93 passing yards but also finished with the fifth-most passing yards in franchise history. His year was filled with highs (four 300-yard games) and lows (68 sacks), but he now holds all the franchise’s rookie passing records. In 2025, he’ll set his sights on Erik Kramer’s single-season passing yardage and touchdown records.
Bagent attempted just two passes in 2024 as Williams became the first Bears QB to start every game in a season since 2009. As a low-cost QB2 with upside, he could draw interest from teams looking for a backup. If the Bears decide to pursue a veteran backup, they might explore trade options for Bagent, potentially landing a late-round draft pick.
Restricted free agent in 2026.
After spending last season on the practice squad following a strong preseason, Reed will again compete for a practice squad spot.
The quarterback depth chart could shift if Johnson wants someone familiar with his offensive system. One obvious free-agent option is 32-year-old Teddy Bridgewater, who played under Johnson in Detroit in 2023 and briefly came out of retirement to rejoin the Lions last season. If Bridgewater wants to keep playing, Chicago would be a logical landing spot.
Other potential veteran free agents include Jacoby Brissett, Joe Flacco, Taylor Heinicke, and Tim Boyle, who previously worked with Johnson.
The Bears will eventually add a fourth quarterback for training camp, but that’s unlikely to come through the draft.
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