Bears contracts explained

1. Darnell WrightRT · The richest deal in Bears history went to a right tackle2.99x$10.5M in 2026

   4-year, $116M extension (Aug 4, 2026) that runs through 2031, with $93M in total guarantees, a record for an offensive lineman. $19.07M signing bonus, fully guaranteed 2026 and 2027 salaries, and an $18M roster bonus due on the 10th day of the 2027 league year. His $22.5M salaries for 2028 and 2029 become guaranteed a year early.

   $10.5M2026

   $9.41M2027

   $30.4M2028

   $30.4M2029

   $31.4M2030

   $29.6M2031

   Year-by-year cap hits as reported by Bleacher Nation (Luis C. Medina, Aug 10, 2026), citing Spotrac.

   2.99x: his peak cap hit (2030, $31.4M) is 2.99 times his 2026 cap hit ($10.5M).

   • $29M a year makes him the NFL's highest-paid right tackle. Only Laremy Tunsil ($30.1M) makes more among all tackles.
   • It tops D.J. Moore's $27.5M average as the biggest contract in franchise history, for now. Caleb Williams is next in line.
   • A to Z Sports (Kole Noble, Aug 10, 2026) reports $42M fully guaranteed at signing. The deal cost about $3.8M of 2026 cap space and saved about $9.6M in 2027 compared with his fifth-year option.
   • The hit triples in 2028, when the roster bonus and the early-vesting salaries kick in, which is around when Caleb Williams' extension would land.

   The GM view: Chicago paid its best lineman early, and the price only goes up from here once Caleb's deal lands.

   Sources: Bleacher Nation (Luis C. Medina), citing Spotrac, Aug 10, 2026 · NFL.com (Nick Shook), citing Ian Rapoport and Jeremy Fowler, Aug 4, 2026 · Chicago Bears (team announcement), Aug 4, 2026 · Pro Football Rumors (Nikhil Mehta), Aug 4 and Aug 10, 2026 (signing bonus and roster bonus details via Over The Cap) · A to Z Sports (Kole Noble), Aug 10, 2026

2. Coby BryantS · The 2026 splash signing is locked in for two years2.9x$5.96M in 2026

   3-year, $40M deal (March 2026) with $25.75M fully guaranteed, including a $12M signing bonus. His $12.25M salary for 2027 is fully guaranteed.

   $5.96M2026

   $17M2027

   $17M2028

   Calculated from reported terms by Field Gulls (John Gilbert, March 9, 2026), using Aaron Wilson's contract details: a $12M signing bonus ($4M a year), salaries of $1.5M/$12.25M/$11.75M, per-game bonuses of $340K/$510K/$510K, workout bonuses of $160K/$240K/$240K, and a $500K roster bonus in 2028.

   2.9x: his peak cap hit (2027, $17M) is 2.9 times his 2026 cap hit ($5.96M).

   • The fully guaranteed 2027 salary means there's no real exit until 2028.
   • Pro Football Rumors listed him among the Bears' availability concerns in September 2026.

   The GM view: A low 2026 cap hit now, and a much bigger 2027 bill that is already guaranteed.

   Sources: Field Gulls (John Gilbert), calculated from Aaron Wilson's reported terms, March 9, 2026 · Bears Wire, contract details for new and returning players, March 9, 2026 · Pro Football Rumors, NFC contract details, citing Aaron Wilson and Albert Breer, March 2026

3. Joe ThuneyG · Cheap this year, a $28.5M question in March1.96x$14.5M in 2026

   2-year, $35M extension (May 2025) on top of the last year of his Chiefs deal, making it 3 years and $51M through 2027, with $33.5M fully guaranteed at signing. In Sept 2026, $14M of his 2026 salary became signing bonus, creating $7M of room.

   $14.5M2026

   $28.5M2027

   Cap hits after the Sept 2026 restructure, as reported by Clocker Sports (Josh Buckhalter, Sept 5, 2026), citing Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti. The article labels the second figure 2028, but the same piece says the deal ends in 2027, and its 2027 cut math ($16.5M saved plus $12M dead) adds up to $28.5M, so we list it as 2027.

   1.96x: his peak cap hit (2027, $28.5M) is 1.96 times his 2026 cap hit ($14.5M).

   • Cutting him in 2027 would save $16.5M and leave $12M of dead money.
   • The restructure moved $7M of cap from 2026 into 2027.

   The GM view: An All-Pro guard at a discount this year, then a big March decision.

   Sources: The Athletic, citing a league source, May 20, 2025 · Clocker Sports (Josh Buckhalter), citing Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti, Sept 5, 2026 · Pro Football Rumors (Adam La Rose), citing ESPN's Field Yates, Sept 4, 2026

4. Dayo OdeyingboDE · The restructure nearly doubled his 2027 bill1.96x$13.5M in 2026

   3-year, $48M free-agent deal (March 2025) that runs through 2027, with $32M guaranteed and a $13.5M signing bonus (ESPN's Courtney Cronin via Bears On SI). In Sept 2026, $14M of his 2026 salary became signing bonus, creating $7M of room.

   $13.5M2026

   $26.5M2027

   Cap hits after the Sept 2026 restructure, as reported by Clocker Sports (Josh Buckhalter, Sept 5, 2026), citing Spotrac. The article's sentence reads '$26.5 in 2026', a typo for 2027. Sports Mockery (Oct 14, 2026) also lists his 2027 cap hit as $26.5M.

   1.96x: his peak cap hit (2027, $26.5M) is 1.96 times his 2026 cap hit ($13.5M).

   • A post-June 1 release in 2027 would leave $11.5M dead and save $15M.
   • Sports Mockery reported in October that he's dealing with a quad injury, another health setback.
   • The original terms included a $1M roster bonus on the 5th day of the 2027 league year, and his 2026 salary became fully guaranteed on the 3rd day of the 2026 league year.

   The GM view: Chicago bought 2026 room and made a 2027 release cost more.

   Sources: Clocker Sports (Josh Buckhalter), citing Spotrac's Michael Ginnitti, Sept 5, 2026 · Sports Mockery (Erik Lambert), 2027 cap hits and cut savings, Oct 14, 2026 · Pro Football Rumors (Adam La Rose), citing ESPN's Field Yates, Sept 4, 2026 · Bears On SI (Bryan Perez), citing ESPN's Courtney Cronin, March 12, 2025

5. Jonah JacksonG · An April restructure moved his money into 2027, his final year1.9x$12.8M in 2026

   Acquired from the Rams in March 2025 on the 3-year, $51M deal he signed with them in 2024. In April 2026 the Bears converted $13.5M of his 2026 salary into a bonus. That was a standard restructure with no void years added, and 2027 is still the last year of the deal. Reporting differs on how long the Bears' 2025 extension was (see points).

   $12.8M2026

   $23.8M2027

   Cap hits after the April 2026 restructure, as reported by Windy City Gridiron (Lester A. Wiltfong Jr., April 24, 2026), quoting Over The Cap's Jason Fitzgerald. Pro Football Rumors (April 26, 2026) gives the same figures rounded ($12.8M/$23.8M). This replaces the stale pre-restructure $19.5M from Bears Wire (March 9, 2026) on the original card.

   1.9x: his peak cap hit (2027, $23.8M) is 1.9 times his 2026 cap hit ($12.8M).

   • The restructure cleared about $6.75M of 2026 room and pushed it into his final year, which makes 2027 a $23.75M decision.
   • There's a conflict on the extension's length. Pro Football Rumors (March 13, 2025, via Mike Garafolo) called it a one-year extension through 2027, while PFR (April 26, 2026) calls it a 'three-year, $54.5MM extension.' Both put the deal's end in 2027.
   • A to Z Sports (Aug 10, 2026) says the Bears' 2027 cut candidates, a list that includes Jackson, have no guaranteed money left in 2027.

   The GM view: Chicago got 2026 room now and has a $23.75M call to make on a guard in 2027.

   Sources: Windy City Gridiron (Lester A. Wiltfong Jr.), quoting OTC's Jason Fitzgerald, April 24, 2026 · Pro Football Rumors (Nikhil Mehta), April 26, 2026 · Pro Football Rumors (Ben Levine), citing Mike Garafolo, March 13, 2025 · A to Z Sports (Kole Noble), Aug 10, 2026

6. Caleb WilliamsQB · The cheapest franchise QB in the division, for now1.2x$10.8M in 2026
7. Jeffery Simmons A-DT · Two firsts for an All-Pro, and the 2026 cap hit is still pendingNo score2026 not reported

   Acquired from the Titans on Oct 29, 2026, for 2027 and 2028 first-round picks and a 2027 fourth-round pick; Chicago also received a 2028 fifth. He signed a 3-year, $105.8 million extension with Tennessee on June 19, 2026, reported as $100 million guaranteed, about $35.3 million a year, through 2030.

   No backload score: The Bears' 2026 cap hit after the Oct 29 trade is not yet confirmed in reporting we can cite, so there is no score.

   • ProFootballTalk (Mike Florio, June 20, 2026) reported the cash terms: a $20 million signing bonus, a fully guaranteed $13 million 2026 base salary, and $60.2 million fully guaranteed at signing. NFL.com, citing Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, reported $100 million guaranteed.
   • Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer), writing at the time of the trade, listed his existing schedule as a $7.944 million 2026 cap hit, $22.55 million in 2027, and $30.9 million in 2028. Those are the Titans-era figures as reported then, not a confirmed Chicago 2026 number.

   The GM view: A true difference-maker in a title window, paid like one. We are waiting on a cited Bears cap figure before scoring the deal.

   Sources: Chicago Bears official announcement, Oct 29, 2026 · NFL.com, Bears acquire Simmons from Titans, Oct 29, 2026 · NFL.com (Bobby Kownack), citing Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo, June 19, 2026 extension · ESPN, Titans and Simmons agree to 3-year extension with $100M guaranteed, June 2026 · ProFootballTalk (Mike Florio), 'Inside the new Jeffery Simmons deal', June 20, 2026 · Sporting News (Vinnie Iyer), Simmons trade grades, reporting 2026-2028 cap hits at the time of the trade

8. Montez SweatDE · Suspension wiped out his guaranteesNo score$25.1M in 2026

   4-year, $98M extension (Nov 2023). His 2026 cap hit was $25.08M, the highest on the Bears (Bears Wire, March 9, 2026), before a two-game PED suspension in October 2026 voided his remaining 2026 guarantees.

   $25.1M2026

   The $25.08M 2026 figure is the pre-suspension cap hit from Bears Wire (March 9, 2026). Bears On SI (Mike Moraitis, Oct 14, citing Spotrac) and A to Z Sports (Oct 14) say the $2.3M he forfeited is credited back to Chicago's cap, but no outlet we can cite publishes a post-credit 2026 cap hit, so the chart still shows $25.08M. Sports Mockery (Oct 14) lists a 2027 cap hit of $25.09M; that is a different outlet, so we do not combine the two years into a backload score.

   No backload score: The 2027 cap hit comes from a different outlet than the 2026 figure, so we do not chart 2027 or compute a backload score.

   • Per Spotrac (Oct 14, 2026, via Bears On SI), he forfeited $2.3M of 2026 salary, and the $12.7M left on his 2026 salary is no longer guaranteed. Chicago Sun-Times (Patrick Finley, Oct 13) also puts the two missed game checks at about $2.3M.
   • Bears On SI and A to Z Sports (both Oct 14, citing Spotrac) say that forfeiture is credited back to the Bears' 2026 cap. The $25.08M on this card predates that credit.
   • His $21M 2027 salary was already non-guaranteed. NFL.com's return story said the suspension voided "all future guaranteed money ($21 million in 2027)"; we follow Bears On SI's reading that 2027 had no guarantees left to void. Sports Mockery (Oct 14) lists a 2027 cap hit of $25.09M with $4.09M dead and $21M saved if he is cut. Sun-Times similarly cites about $4M dead and a $2M roster bonus due on the fifth league day next year.
   • He served the suspension in Weeks 6 and 7 and has returned.

   The GM view: The Bears now owe him nothing beyond what he has earned. With no guarantees left, cutting him in 2027 saves $21M, so his last stretch of 2026 is effectively a tryout.

   Sources: NFL.com: Sweat returns after two-game suspension · Bears On SI (Mike Moraitis), Oct 14, 2026, citing Spotrac · Sports Mockery (Erik Lambert), Oct 14, 2026 · Bears Wire, March 9, 2026 · Chicago Sun-Times (Patrick Finley), Oct 13, 2026 · A to Z Sports, Oct 14, 2026 (cap credit, citing Spotrac)

9. Jaylon JohnsonCB · Playing for his next dealNo score$24.5M in 2026

   2026 cap hit of $24.5M, second-highest on the Bears (March 2026).

   $24.5M2026

   2026 only; future cap hits are not in reporting we can cite.

   No backload score: Year-by-year cap hits beyond 2026 are not yet reported in sources we can cite.

   • Windy City Gridiron estimated about $16M of potential 2027 savings if he is released.

   The GM view: A contract-year feel. Chicago can keep him, extend him, or save real money.

   Sources: Bears Wire, March 9, 2026 · Windy City Gridiron, Feb 18, 2026

10. Grady JarrettDT · A veteran with a cheap way out in 2027No score$18.9M in 2026

    3-year, $43.5M deal (March 2025) with $28.5M fully guaranteed.

    $18.9M2026

    2026 only, from Bears Wire's March 9, 2026 list. No single outlet we can cite reports both his 2026 and 2027 hits, and the outlets that do report 2027 disagree (see points), so there is no score.

    No backload score: Year-by-year cap hits beyond 2026 are not yet reported in sources we can cite.

    • His 2027 hit is in conflict. Sports Mockery (Oct 14, 2026) says $16.75M ($4M dead, $12.75M saved if he's cut). Bears On SI (Mike Moraitis, 2026, citing Over The Cap) says $17.5M ($4M dead, $13.5M saved).
    • Both outlets agree that only $4M of dead money remains in 2027.

    The GM view: Sixth-biggest cap hit on the team, and an easy cut if 2026 doesn't turn around.

    Sources: Bears Wire (Alyssa Barbieri), citing Adam Schefter, March 10, 2025 · Bears Wire (Alyssa Barbieri), 2026 cap hits for every player, March 9, 2026 · Sports Mockery (Erik Lambert), 2027 cap hits and cut savings, Oct 14, 2026 · Bears On SI (Mike Moraitis), 2027 cut candidates, citing Over The Cap, 2026

Bars show each reported cap hit by year on one shared scale; the dark bar is 2026. Tap a deal for the full breakdown.

1. Kyler GordonCB$12.9M3 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
2. Cole KmetTE$7.78M2 years leftBleacher Nation, Apr 24, 2026, citing OTC's Jason Fitzgerald
3. T.J. EdwardsLB$7.40M2 years leftClocker Sports, Josh Buckhalter, Sep 6, 2026
4. Rome OdunzeWR$6.19M2 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
5. Colston LovelandTE$6.05M3 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
6. D'Andre SwiftRB$5.80M4 years leftBears On SI, Sep 16, 2026 (via Over The Cap)
7. Tyson BagentQB$4.75M2 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
8. Garrett BradburyC$4.70M1 year leftPro Football Rumors, Adam La Rose, May 7, 2026 (via Spotrac)
9. Tyrique StevensonCB$4.09M1 year leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
10. Neville GallimoreDT$4M2 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (free-agent contract details, via Aaron Wilson)
11. Cairo SantosK$3.76M2 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
12. D'Marco JacksonLB$3.04M2 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (free-agent contract details, via Aaron Wilson)
13. Josh BlackwellCB$2.60M—Bears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
14. Luther Burden IIIWR$2.49M3 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (pre-free-agency cap hits)
15. Daniel HardyDE$2.13M2 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 9, 2026 (free-agent contract details, via Aaron Wilson)
16. Devin BushLB—3 years leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 12, 2026
17. Braxton JonesOT—1 year leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 12, 2026
18. Kalif RaymondWR—1 year leftBears Wire, Alyssa Barbieri, Mar 12, 2026
19. Dillon ThienemanS—4 years leftPro Football Rumors, Connor Byrne, Jun 5, 2026, citing Mike Garafolo (NFL Network)

The next deals by 2026 cap hit that don't have a full card yet. A dash means that figure has not been reported in a source we can cite. Each row links the reporting we used.