Andrew Billings
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - DECEMBER 10: General manager Ryan Poles and Andrew Billings #97 of the Chicago Bears celebrate a win over the Detroit Lions at Soldier Field on December 10, 2023 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Chicago Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings has quickly become a fan favorite ever since he joined the Bears back in 2023.
“The professionalism, dependability and toughness he brings exhibits the type of player we want in our organization,” general manager Ryan Poles said regarding Billings.
In three seasons with Chicago, he’s racked up 71 total tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble in 42 career games with the Bears, and ESPN’s Courtney Cronin announced that Billings was the team’s 2025 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which honors a player from each franchise who embodies “courage, compassion, commitment and community service.”
Some awesome news for Billings, but unfortunately, he might not be back in Chicago next season.
Andrew Billings Hitting the Open Market
Billings is a free agent this offseason, and things aren’t shaping up in his favor to return to Chicago.
The Bears went out on the first day of free agency and signed former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Neville Gallimore to a two-year, $12 million deal. This doesn’t completely shut the door on Billings returning, especially since Chicago needs all the help they can get on the defensive line, but it looks like the Bears are heading in another direction.
Billings had a down year in 2025, earning a 38.7 Pro Football Focus grade, which ranks 131st of 134 qualified defensive linemen. In a year where the Bears desperately needed help in the interior, his mere 12 pressures were not satisfactory.
Adding Gallimore is the first of many moves the Bears are expected to make when it comes to addressing the defensive tackle room, and who knows, maybe they can reach a short-term, cheap deal with Billings to keep him on the team as a depth piece.
Defensive Tackle Help Via the 2026 NFL Draft
There aren’t any game-changers left for the Bears to sign at defensive tackle in free agency, which points to the team addressing DT through the 2026 NFL Draft.
Pete Martuneac of Chicago Bears SI published a recent seven-round mock draft where he has the Bears taking Ohio State defensive tackle Kayden McDonald in the first round:
“McDonald doesn’t have as high a ceiling as some of the other top defensive line prospects in this year’s draft class, but I think he’s the safest one,” Martuneac wrote. “He is more likely, in my opinion, to live up to his pre-draft projections than, say, Peter Woods or Caleb Banks, and the Bears are still in a position where they can’t afford to whiff with their first-round pick. He may not bring much as a pass rusher right away, but some coaching up could eventually make McDonald a threat in this area. However, he would immediately be the Bears’ best run stuffer, and that can’t be overlooked.”
Some of the other top DT prospects in this year’s draft, according to multiple ESPN draft analysts, include the following:
Peter Woods, Clemson
Lee Hunter, Texas Tech
Caleb Banks, Florida
Christen Miller, Georgia
Gracen Halton, Oklahoma
If the Bears don’t go DT in round one, other prospects to keep an eye on in the later rounds include Domonique Orange, Skyler Gill-Howard, Zane Durant, and David Gusta.