The NFL Combine isn’t just about who’s got next. It’s also about who’s about to be available for NFL teams right now. And the Chicago Bears got some interesting news on both sides of the ledger as we head into Combine interviews, measurements, and workouts today and tomorrow.
On one hand, anyone who had visions of the Bears making a run at dynamic New York Jets running back Breece Hall might have to scrap those. Jets general manager Darren Mougey heavily suggested to reporters yesterday that he won’t
allow his 24-year-old running back to hit the open market, saying the franchise and transition tags are options to retain the former second-round pick if they can’t agree on a long-term extension.
Hall, who has quietly been one of the NFL’s more productive backs since entering the league in 2022 despite never having reliable quarterback play, figured to be on the Bears’ radar had he hit free agency. Though it would’ve cost them a decent amount to bring him in, Ben Johnson’s love of home run-hitting running backs—see, Jahmyr Gibbs—made the connection an easy one to make.
Now, it would seem the Bears would have to give up draft capital for Hall if they really want him, which effectively removes his name from consideration.
On the other hand…
The news about the San Francisco 49ers and Trent Williams being in a contract dispute that could lead to the All-Pro tackle’s release could be incredibly intriguing for Chicago.
Williams, who continued to play at a high level in his age-37 season, enters the 2026 season with a $38.8 million cap hit and no guaranteed money left on his deal. Suffice it to say that’s not going to work for anyone. Of course, the 49ers have time to work something out with Williams before it’s too late. But it’s hard to ignore that a post-June 1 cut or trade could save San Fran $25 million in cap space (while netting just $13 million in dead cap). With quarterback Brock Purdy set to make a ton of money, the time might be now for the 49ers to move on.
If they do, the Bears should be one of the first teams on his agent’s line.
As much as we’ve talked about the Bears needing defensive line help, their need at left tackle is no less following Ozzy Trapilo’s patellar tendon injury. Chicago should treat 2026 as a complete redshirt year for Trapilo, and there’s no guarantee he’ll ever truly be back to 100%. As such, you need to look at short-term fixes (like Williams) as well as possibly longer-term ones in the draft (like Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor).
The problem: you really need to try and win before you have to start paying Caleb Williams $60 million a year and Darnell Wright possibly getting close to $20 million a season, not to mention what you’ll eventually need to pay Colston Loveland. So while drafting a cost-controlled rookie is the ideal play here, creating an unstoppable offensive line with Trent Williams for a year is awfully enticing. (Plus, that makes spending draft picks on the defensive front academic.)
Of course, there’s always that possibility that, assuming the Bears release D’Andre Swift, they’re also in the market to draft running backs. As I’ve written before, if there’s one player who gives Johnson his best imitation of Gibbs or Hall next to Williams, it would be Notre Dame’s Jadarian Price, who is creeping up draft boards as people take stock of how rough the free-agent RB market looks. As badly as the Bears need help up front, there’s an argument that signing someone like Williams at left tackle, swinging a deal or two for veteran help defensively in free agency, and taking one of the most dynamic offensive players in the draft at No. 25 is on the table. Hate it if you want, but do believe it’s possible.
(After all, don’t forget the possibility of a trade—looking at DJ Moore here—that nets the Bears a defensive player they need at either edge or tackle, allowing them to play the “best player available” game in the first round.)
Tell you this: the 2026 offseason is already getting weird, and I love it. Follow along for more updates and thoughts from the NFL Combine this week.
Khari is in Indy this week covering the NFL Combine for Windy City Gridiron and 2nd City Gridiron, so give him a follow on his socials here (Twitter) and here (Bluesky).
