Top Free Agent Defensive Ends Still Available For The Chicago Bears

Just one week after 82% of Chicago Bears fans voted that they expect defensive end Austin Booker to get double-digit sacks in 2026, our same Reacts voters feel that defensive end is still the team’s biggest need. No argument here, as that’s also how I voted. I do think Booker has a great shot at 10+ sacks, but I’d feel much better about the position if they had someone else in the mix.

Montez Sweat and either Booker or the returning Dayo Odeyingbo will be the starters, but Dayo didn’t show much in 2025 before the Achilles injury. How impactful will he be this year? Second-year pro Shemar Turner, if he can get back from his knee injury, will be DE4, with special teamers and practice squadders making up the rest of the depth chart.

That’s not a strong group unless Booker, Dayo, and Turner all show significantly more than they did last season.

The Bears could address the EDGE position once they get a feel for their players in training camp, and if they do, here are the top five free agents still available.

1) Joey Bosa – The soon-to-be 31-year-old is coming off a 5 sack, 5 forced fumble season for the Bills in 15 games (all starts).

2) Jadeveon Clowney – He had 8.5 sacks last year in Dallas (13 games), and during his 12-year career, he’s played for 7 different teams while compiling 66.5 sacks.

3) Von Miller – At 37 years old, Miller (6’3”, 250) is a situational pass rusher at this point in his career, so not having the ideal size for a Dennis Allen EDGE doesn’t matter. He had 9 sacks last year in Washington.

4) Denico Autry – He’ll be 36 in a month, but would be a viable DE4 with some defensive tackle versatility.

5) Leonard Floyd – The former Bear will turn 34 this season, and while a bit on the small side (6’5”, 240), he’s always been able to set the edge in the run game. He played in 15 games last year for the Falcons (all starts) with 3.5 sacks.

A few other EDGE players still looking for a team are Haason Reddick, Derek Barnett, Emmanuel Ogbah, Kyle Van Noy, and Tyquan Lewis.

Bolstering the pass rush will help the Bears in their quest to repeat as NFC North champs. Our partners at FanDuel Sportsbook still have the Bears at +330, the third-best odds to win the division. They have the Detroit Lions at +150, the Green Bay Packers at +250, and the Minnesota Vikings at +490.