In the past week, the Bears have moved to retain several pending free agents, signing two-year extensions with cornerback Josh Blackwell and linebacker Amen Ogbongbemiga and tendering four exclusive rights free agents.
On Saturday, they took another step to retain a key restricted free agent.
According to Over the Cap’s Jason Fitzgerald, the Bears are tendering defensive tackle Chris Williams as a restricted free agent at the right-of-first-refusal level, meaning he will have a cap hit of $3.263 million in 2025 with no guarantees.
Other teams can sign Williams to an offer sheet in free agency, but the tender ensures the Bears will have an opportunity to match any offers. If a team offers Williams and the Bears do not match, they would receive no compensation.
The Bears acquired Williams and a 2025 seventh-round pick from the Cleveland Browns for a 2025 sixth-rounder after the 53-man roster cutdown last summer. He proceeded to carve out a meaningful role in the interior rotation, recording three sacks and seven quarterback hits and playing in all 17 games.
If no one signs him away, Williams should supply the Bears’ defensive interior with more viable depth as they progress through the 2025 offseason; though, things could change if they add to the position in free agency or the draft
Either way, Williams will need to re-earn his place in the rotation in 2025. There are new coaches for him to impress, including a veteran defensive line coach in Jeremy Garrett and an aggressive defensive coordinator in Dennis Allen.
The Bears are also returning some depth competition for him in Zacch Pickens — a 2023 third-round pick — and former Green Bay Packers draft pick Jonathan Ford, whom they have tendered as an exclusive rights free agent.
The Bears will have the option to cut Williams and save every cent of his $3.263 million base salary if he cannot win them over during 2025’s training camp.