Bears at 7-2 already face a 2027 bill: cornerback, defensive line top offseason needs
With no 2027 first-round pick after the Jeffery Simmons trade, the 7-2 Bears may have to fix cornerback and the defensive line through Day 2 and cap cuts.
The Chicago Bears are 7-2 and spending their bye week near the top of the NFC. But the trade that made them stronger for this season has already shaped next spring. In a bye-week look at the roster for Windy City Gridiron (SB Nation), draft analyst Jacob Infante ranks cornerback as Chicago's biggest 2027 need. Defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker and offensive guard follow. His point is that the Bears will have to fill most of those holes without a first-round pick.
The Bears gave that pick away in late October. As NFL.com reported, Chicago sent its 2027 and 2028 first-rounders plus a 2027 fourth to Tennessee for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons and got a 2028 fifth back. Simmons is under contract through 2030, so the interior has its anchor. Infante calls the rest of that group thin. He lists Grady Jarrett as a likely cap casualty, since releasing him would save $13.5 million.
Cornerback is the bigger concern. Rookie Malik Muhammad has played better than a fourth-round pick usually does, and Kyler Gordon has been steady in the slot. On the outside, though, Infante sees problems. Jaylon Johnson had a pick-six against Tampa Bay but has mostly struggled this season, and cutting him would save $16 million. Tyrique Stevenson is set to become a free agent.
The cap shapes the rest of the list. Infante expects Chicago to clear money at defensive end, with Montez Sweat ($21 million) or Dayo Odeyingbo ($15 million) as the likely cut. Austin Booker has played well enough to be part of what comes next. At linebacker, T.J. Edwards could be released to save $8.5 million. Guard is more of a long-term need. Joe Thuney is about to turn 34 and has slipped from last year's level, so a deep playoff run could be a natural point for him to retire. Infante calls Day 2 of this draft class strong at edge rusher and cornerback, which is where Chicago's first selection will come.
What it means for Sunday
None of that matters until the winter, and this season has gone well. The Bears have won four straight since a 31-7 loss at Green Bay. The streak includes a 34-17 win at Seattle and the 27-24 home win over Tampa Bay before the bye, and they have scored at least 23 points in seven of nine games. The defense Infante questions has allowed 24 or more points in four of the last five games, though, so the secondary will be worth watching against New Orleans at Soldier Field on Sunday, November 22 (Fox).
The board on this site expects Chicago to win comfortably. The Bears are favored by 9.5 points at all seven venues. Novig has Chicago at -120 on that spread, while DraftKings offers the best price at -110. On the moneyline, Novig lists the Bears at -567 and DraftKings is best at -485. That gap of roughly 80 cents is one of the wider ones on the board. Saints backers get +426 at Novig and +430 at FanDuel, which are nearly identical. The total sits between 48.5 and 49.5. Sportsbook hold runs from 4.2% to 5.0% across the markets. Full prices are on the game page, and season coverage is on the Bears team page.