NFL insider predicts Bears will land 8-time Pro Bowl defender with ties to Dennis Allen originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Chicago Bears‘ defense is going to be the x-factor of the team in 2026.
Though the unit led the league in takeaways (33) last year, they were also in the bottom ten in scoring and were incredibly inconsistent.
If Chicago wants to field a more complete defense this season, general manager Ryan Poles should look to upgrade the edge rusher group. Outside of Montez Sweat, the Bears lack experience and proven production at the position, and the position room is currently banking on either Dayo Odeyingbo or Austin Booker to step up.
With the draft over, Poles will have to turn towards free agency to solve the Bears’ most pressing need, and luckily for him, there is a former Pro Bowl edge rusher with ties to defensive coordinator Dennis Allen who would be the perfect summer signing.
Albert Breer links Bears to Saints free agent edge rusher Cam Jordan
In a recent mailbag article, Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer was asked where he thinks free agent edge rusher Cam Jordan will land in 2026, and Breer said the Bears.
“Give me the Bears for [Cam] Jordan and the Chiefs for [Tyreek] Hill,” Breer wrote.
At 36, Jordan is no longer playing at an All-Pro level. However, the New Orleans Saints legend still has a ton of juice left and could make a legitimate impact for Chicago.
Jordan tallied 10.5 sacks and 36 quarterback pressures in 17 starts for the Saints in 2025, and was also a terrific run defender, posting 36 defensive stops and an 82.1 PFF run defense grade.
The eight-time Pro Bowler’s experience and versatility to play on the inside and outside of the defensive line would make him an ideal addition to the Bears’ edge rusher room. Jordan would also step in as the immediate starter opposite Sweat, and his veteran leadership would be incredibly beneficial to a young Chicago squad.
The Bears have just $11 million in cap space, but Jordan should come for cheap. Spotrac projects the future Hall of Famer will land a one-year deal worth $6.8 million, which should be in Chicago’s range.
Overall, if the Bears want to elevate into a premier contender, the pass rush needs a jolt. Jordan showed in 2025 that he can still be an impact pass rusher, and paired with his experience, there isn’t a better pre-training camp signing for Chicago than the Saints’ 2011 first-round pick out of California.