Tracking the Bears’ roster moves before the start of the league year March 12:
March 5
The Bears are tendering defensive end Daniel Hardy a contract, a source confirmed. Hardy was an exclusive rights free agent, which gave his team the right of first refusal to sign him. Hardy played on 85% of the team’s special teams downs last year in his only season with the team.
The Bears are tendering another exclusive rights free agent, offensive lineman Bill Murray, a contract., a source confirmed. The Bears claimed Murray, who converted to offensive line from defensive line, from the Patriots in August. He played three games before hurting his pectoral muscle.
The Bears agreed to trade a 2026 fourth-round pick to the Chiefs for guard Joe Thuney, a two-time All-Pro and four-time Super Bowl winner, a source confirmed. Thuney, who was drafted by the Patriots in 2016, was voted the Chiefs’ team MVP this season after moving to tackle following an injury on their offensive line. Thuney has one year and $16 million left on his contract, which the Bears figure to renegotiate this offseason. The Bears can’t finalize the deal until March 12.
March 4
The Bears agreed to trade a 2025 sixth-round pick — one they got from the Steelers in exchange for quarterback Justin Fields — to the Rams for guard Jonah Jackson, a source confirmed. Jackson spent his first four seasons playing for a Lions franchise for whom new Bears coach Ben Johnson once worked. He signed a three-year, $51 million deal with the Rams a year ago and is due $17.5 million — $9 million in base salary and $8.5 million in a roster guarantee — in 2025. The deal can’t be completed until March 12.
