RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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The 2026 Chicago Bears ' initial 53-man roster has been set following Sunday's cutdown deadline. The Bears and the rest of the league needed to trim their 90-man rosters following the conclusion of the preseason, as more than 1,000 players were either placed on waivers or outright released.
While the Bears have their roster in place, it doesn't mean the action is over. Teams have until 12 p.m. CT on Monday to submit a claim on a player who was placed on waivers, while they can sign any of the players who were released at any point.
General manager Ryan Poles has been active in previous years when it comes to putting in claims on available players. He struck gold last year when the Bears claimed linebacker D'Marco Jackson, who played a significant role late in the year. The Bears also claimed cornerback Jaylon Jones. With so many players available on waivers and as free agents, here are a few names worth targeting.
1. CB Reddy Steward
The Dallas Cowboys waived nickel cornerback Reddy Steward, and this would be the perfect time to bring him back to Chicago, where his career began. Steward was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2024 and shined throughout the preseason. After playing sparingly as a rookie, Steward eventually wound up with the Cowboys and played in all 17 games, breaking up three passes and notching 1.5 sacks with five tackles for loss. He's an aggressive defensive back who would do well under Al Harris and, most importantly, provide essential depth with Kyler Gordon still out.
2. RB Jaydon Blue
The Bears' running back room could use another spark to go along with D'Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai. Maybe former Dallas Cowboys running back Jaydon Blue is the answer. Blue, a fifth-round pick last year out of Texas, played sparingly as a rookie but still showed impressive burst and athleticism when on the field. He's worth taking a flyer on to add to the Bears' offense.
3. CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
While the Bears already added to their cornerback room when they traded for Clark Phillips as part of the Gervon Dexter deal, they could still be in the market for a veteran who has years of experience. Sean Murphy-Bunting was released by the Arizona Cardinals and did not play in 2025 due to injury. When he's been on the field, though, Murphy-Bunting has been a reliable starter. He has allowed just two touchdowns in each season from 2022 through 2024 and has totaled seven interceptions during that same span. Murphy-Bunting could split time with Tyrique Stevenson on the outside and would be able to sign immediately as a vested veteran. The secondary needs as much help as they can get, and there aren't many players better suited than Murphy-Buntin.
4. DT Colby Wooden
One of the most surprising cuts of the weekend was defensive tackle Colby Wooden from the Indianapolis Colts. Wooden was acquired via trade from the Green Bay Packers in exchange for linebacker Zaire Franklin, and the hope was that he would add needed depth to the defensive line. Wooden is coming off his best season as a pro, and the Bears know him well, seeing as they went up against him four times within a little over 12 months. I'm not sure if he's better than what they currently have, but I'd be willing to roll the dice. He's still only 25 years old and can spell Grady Jarrett at the 3-technique.
5. DE Sam Williams
I'm a little embarrassed that half of this list is former Cowboys players, but I can't help that I like the players they cut! Defensive end Sam Williams is an intriguing option considering his early career success. The former second-round pick shined early in his career but hasn't had the same production since coming back from a serious knee injury suffered in 2024. Given the Bears may consider re-signing Marcus Davenport, I would take a chance on Williams instead. With a full offseason of no rehab under his belt, he could bounce back in 2026.
6. LB Tyrel Dodson
Perhaps the best and most accomplished player that came available this weekend is linebacker Tyrel Dodson. The former Miami Dolphin is just 27 years old and is coming off a season in which he totaled 129 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five sacks, one forced fumble, three pass breakups, and an interception. Miami invested an early pick in Jacob Rodriguez, which made Dodson expendable. With only four linebackers on the roster and injury questions surrounding half of them, Dodson is an obvious candidate to join the Bears. He has experience in multiple systems and would be a valuable asset for Dennis Allen.
This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 6 available targets for the Bears after roster cutdown
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