Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson and defensive coordinator Dennis Allen may have unintentionally put GM Ryan Poles in a tight spot when it comes to free agency negotiations.
Both coaches have already heaped praise on two key defensive players cornerback Kyler Gordon and defensive tackle Andrew Billings who are on track for contract extensions well ahead of their 2026 free agency status.
Johnson made it clear that he views Gordon as an elite slot corner, calling him “a phenomenal nickel.” Allen reinforced that sentiment, emphasizing Gordon’s importance to the defense and hinting at how he plans to maximize his impact.
Meanwhile, Billings, who is recovering from a pectoral injury, is expected to return in time for offseason work. Johnson, having faced the Bears defense twice in Billings’ absence, recognized the massive void left by his injury.
“This year was different without Billings,” Johnson admitted. “We could feel his absence when we played Chicago.”
That absence was especially glaring. When Billings went down, the Bears’ previously dominant run defense collapsed, surrendering over 2,300 rushing yards on the season a staggering drop-off from their top-tier ranking earlier in the year. His presence alone could be a game-changer moving forward.
While Gordon and Billings are technically on a different timeline than Chicago’s impending free agents, Poles has to approach roster-building with a multi-year strategy. The immediate March 12 deadline is one concern, but ensuring financial flexibility for key players beyond 2025 is just as critical.
Poles himself hinted at looming extensions but kept things vague.
“We have a couple of guys up for some type of extension this offseason,” he said, without specifying whether that included Gordon and Billings or others.
Another name that could enter the extension conversation is linebacker T.J. Edwards. In just two seasons, Edwards has vastly outperformed his three-year, $19.5 million deal, proving to be a defensive cornerstone. The same could be said for Billings, whose current two-year, $8.5 million extension now looks like a bargain given his impact.
The Bears defense, once dominant against the run, crumbled without Billings. When he was sidelined, Chicago allowed a staggering 213 rushing yards in a single game against Arizona and struggled to regain its footing for the rest of the season. His absence alone serves as leverage in upcoming contract negotiations.
While Gordon doesn’t have the same statistical argument, his athleticism and disruptive play speak for themselves. Even without a dominant pass rush, Chicago’s third-down pass defense remained one of the league’s best for much of the season. Pro Football Focus even ranked him as the 13th-best cornerback overall just two spots behind Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson.
Losing a top-tier slot cornerback in today’s NFL is a risk the Bears can’t afford. History proves how costly that can be Chicago’s elite 2018 defense never recovered after losing Bryce Callahan, a crucial slot corner, due to past cap mismanagement.
With major decisions ahead including the potential extension of safety Jaquan Brisker—the Bears’ defensive future hinges on the cash they allocate this offseason.
Compared to these looming extensions, the upcoming free agency period that begins with the March 10 “legal tampering” window looks relatively straightforward. The biggest immediate decisions center around wide receiver Keenan Allen and offensive lineman Teven Jenkins, both of whom come with question marks Allen due to age and scheme fit, and Jenkins due to injury history.
While Poles has time to work out these long-term extensions, waiting too long could be costly. The Bears must act quickly to lock in their key defensive stars before contract talks become a major hurdle down the line.
