Ben Johnson, the Chicago Bears.
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The Chicago Bears are being projected to make a $3.1 million move to clear up more cap space and perhaps bring on bigger players.
Ben Johnson and the Chicago Bears are putting together the roster of their dreams for the 2026-27 season, and they’ll stop at nothing to get big-named players to Chicago.
In order to get to the Super Bowl, though, the Bears have to craft a winning lineup, and that means clearing out some cap space to land big-named players, such as Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders or anyone else they see fit.
Now, one NFL analyst believes the Bears can make a true value move during the 2026 NFL free agency period and help with their cap space issue. The franchise is currently $11 million over the cap, according to research from Spotrac.
Chicago Bears Could Make Smart Move to Keep Their Budget in Check in 2026
Following the Bears being eliminated from the Super Bowl in 2026, Johnson stayed calm about it. “We’re one of the 31 other teams that fell short,” he said, according to the Bears’ official website. “If anything, that just rejuvenates me and makes me want to push harder and longer than what we did this past season.”
He added, “In regards to last season, I really appreciate our guys. They came in in the springtime and they dedicated a large amount of trust to what we were doing. Buy in, work ethic, they sacrificed a lot.”
Johnson added that all of that sacrifice is “what gave us a chance there at the end. We won games, put ourselves in a good position, but ultimately we came up short and so our guys are going to learn from this.”
In a Friday, March 6, feature for Fox Sports, Greg Auman, Ben Arthur, Henry McKenna, Eric Williams and Ralph Vacchiano lay out a handful of smart moves for the NFL franchises going into free agency.
For the Bears, they suggest a smart, and cheap, move. They suggest to sign defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. According to a report from Spotrac, Tonga’s market value is estimated to be $3.1 million annually in 2026 free agency.
“The Patriots quietly unlocked a side to Tonga that few knew existed,” they note in the feature. “And it’s something that a team like the Bears should try to build upon.”
They add, “Tonga is a mammoth interior disruptor who should come at a discount relative to someone who played as well as he did in 2025. And that’s what the Bears need: a value signing.”
So, Tonga isn’t as fun or flashy a name as others, but if the shoe fits, it fits.
Ben Johnson Was Nostalgic at the End of the 2025-26 Chicago Bears Season
After the Bears’ exceptional 2025-26 season, where they ended No. 1 in the NFC North, Johnson spoke about how proud he was of the team and coaching staff.
“I can’t say enough good things about this particular group of coaches, of players, of support staff,” he said. “I thought they were special, and I said that at the end of the year. They believe that and I’ll forever be grateful for what they were able to do this season.”
He added, “But we’re one of the 31 other teams that fell short. If anything, that just rejuvenates me and makes me want to push harder and longer than what we did this past season. I’m already looking ahead to 2026 myself.”