Bears Predicted to Sign 4-Time Pro Bowl DE to $78 Million Contract

“A four-time Pro Bowler with 61.0 sacks in 72 games with the Bengals, Hendrickson is pass-rushing lightning in a bottle,” Infante wrote. “He’s an explosive, incredibly crafty edge defender who knows how to win at the line of scrimmage.”

“There will likely be a steep market for [Hendrickson], even being over 30 with a season-ending injury to his name,” Infante continued. “He’s one of very few blue-chip players hitting the open market this offseason, and he plays at arguably the Bears’ biggest need. Pursuing him heavily should be a given, assuming they free up enough space.”

The Bears are currently $5.3 million over the cap in 2026, though they have several options to cut salary and increase space to sign talent at positions of need.

Trey Hendrickson Most Accomplished Edge-Rusher Bears Can Target in Free Agency

GettyCincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson.

The Bears defense tallied 35 sacks in 2025 and finished 31st in pass-rush win rate. If Chicago doesn’t ink Hendrickson, the franchise is likely to pursue someone of similar talent.

Infante suggested a three-year contract, which equates to $26 million annually and which the Bears could structure with heavy bonuses so that he only cost $15 million against the cap next season.

An important point would be the amount of guaranteed money that Chicago would include. Building an easy out after two years is probably the ideal structure for a player like Hendrickson, who turns 32 years old late next season and missed 10 games with injury in 2025.

He put up 17.5 sacks in each of the two seasons prior, however, leading the league in that category in 2024 and earning first-team All-Pro honors for the first time in his NFL career.

Bears Could Do More With Less by Taking a Different Path Than Trey Hendrickson

GettyChicago Bears cornerback Nahshon Wright.

Paying huge money to Hendrickson, whom ESPN has ranked the No. 1 free agent in this offseason’s class, isn’t the only path forward for the Bears.

In an ideal world, Chicago will be able to re-up with first-team All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III and bring back breakout cornerback Nahshon Wright on a reasonable contract to keep the best pieces around two-time Pro Bowl corner Jaylon Johnson in the secondary.

The Bears would then use the draft and free agency to add another safety as a replacement for Jaquan Brisker, who is likely gone this spring following the expiration of his rookie contract, and bring in a quality edge-rusher opposite Montez Sweat along with a dual run stopper/pass-rush threat on the defensive interior.

Matt Miller of ESPN projected in his most recent mock draft on Monday that Chicago will fill its need at defensive end with the No. 25 overall pick by selecting Zion Young out of Missouri and its likely hole at safety in Round 2 via AJ Hauley of LSU.

“The 6-foot-5, 262-pound Young is more of a three-down edge setter than a sudden pass rusher, but he uses a long-arm move to set up tackles and establish the corner in the run game,” Miller wrote. “Young needs to develop a secondary pass-rush move with a better plan, but the traits are there for him to be a solid starter in a 4-3 defense.”

Broncos DL John Franklin-Myers Less Expensive Alternative to Trey Hendrickson

GettyDefensive lineman John Franklin-Myers of the Denver Broncos.

The Bears could then spend the bulk of their free-agency money on maintaining the parts of the defense that worked in 2025 and adding a less expensive player like defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers, who can rush from the inside and outside as a versatile defensive tackle who is also well above-average against the run.

Spotrac projects Franklin-Myers will command less than $16 million on a new two-year contract, though other projects have him making as much as $15 million annually across a three-year deal.

Regardless, anywhere in that range is far less onerous than the top-of-the-line free agent money Hendrickson is almost certain to command come March.