Andrew Billings
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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - SEPTEMBER 08: Andrew Billings #97 of the Chicago Bears anticipates a play during a game against the Tennessee Titans at Soldier Field on September 08, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Titans 24-17. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals have signed Chicago Bears defensive tackle Andrew Billings to a one-year deal, reporter Darren Urban announced.
“Also signing one-year contracts were safety Andrew Wingard and defensive lineman Andrew Billings,” Urban wrote.
Billings, 31, appeared in 42 games with the Bears since 2023 and racked up 71 total tackles, two sacks, and one forced fumble.
He was recently awarded the 2025 Ed Block Courage Award, which honors a player from each franchise who embodies “courage, compassion, commitment and community service.”
He now finds a new home in Arizona.
Former Chicago Bears Defensive Tackle Andrew Billings Signs With Arizona Cardinals
Billings was a favorite among Bears fans. Even if he wasn’t the most impactful player on defense, his huge 6’1″, 340-pound frame was hard to miss in the middle of the Bears’ defensive line.
Now that he’s gone, the Bears made some additions at defensive tackle, signing Neville Gallimore to a two-year, $12 million deal and Kentavius Street to a one-year deal.
Both are projected to be rotational depth pieces at DT, like Billings was when he was with the Bears, and now the question is, when will Chicago draft a defensive tackle?
There’s a consensus among many Bears fans that it should be in the early rounds, preferably in the first round or during Day 2. The bigger question is who fits what Chicago wants at defensive tackle?
Defensive Tackle Options in the 2026 NFL Draft
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers defensive tackles to be around 300 pounds or lower who score high on the Relative Athletic Score (RAS).
That narrows the list down to the following prospects:
Peter Woods
Christen Miller
Chris McClellan
Rayshaun Benny
Gracen Halton
Kaleb Proctor
Zane Durant
There are a lot more options as well in the later rounds, but the choice a lot of fans want in the first round is Peter Woods. Bears insider Brad Biggs pinned him as the likely best option for Allen, writing, “Some college evaluators I spoke with believe there could be a good clump of defensive linemen on the board when the Bears’ pick comes around. The best fit for Dennis Allen might be Clemson’s Peter Woods. Allen wants a disruptive guy in the middle.”
A personal favorite to watch for in the second round is Gracen Halton out of Oklahoma. He scored a 9.7/10 RAS score and has some serious athleticism, posting an insane vertical jump of 36.5 inches at 293 pounds.
Bears general manager Ryan Poles, along with assistant GM Jeff King and director of player personnel Trey Koziol, were at Oklahoma’s pro day and likely kept a close eye on Halton.
Here’s a scouting report on Halton from NFL draft analyst Lane Zierlein:
“An undersized 3-technique with disruptive attributes, Halton is best suited for a rotational role in a movement-based front. He plays with synced hands and feet and good lateral agility. His initial quickness makes him quite slippery but a centered block can clear him from the run lane due to his lack of mass/anchor. He’s an energetic, gap-to-gap rusher who can threaten guards on their edges or play his role as an effective twister. Finding the right scheme fit will be critical for Halton in the NFL.”
There’s plenty of talent the Bears could bring in at defensive tackle during the NFL draft, and Woods/Halton could be one of those guys.