Bears’ frustrating offseason move makes more sense after new development

The Chicago Bears did not exactly have a banner offseason in the eyes of most, as they lost some key players and didn’t really address their most prominent needs.

One move in particular that had Bears fans very frustrated was the team’s decision to allow cornerback Nahshon Wright to walk via free agency, as the Pro Bowler signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with the New York Jets.

Even with Chicago strapped for cash, many did not quite understand the Bears being perfectly fine letting Wright depart for such a cheap deal considering just how important he was to the club’s secondary last season.

But Chicago then proceeded to select Texas Longhorns cornerback Malik Muhammad in the fourth round of the NFL Draft in an attempt to assuage the loss of Wright, and this week, another development has helped make more sense of the situation: the return of Terell Smith.

Chicago Bears have Terell Smith back in the fold

The Bears selected Smith in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft and saw him develop a critical role in their defensive backfield immediately, as he posted 49 tackles and six passes defended in 12 games during his rookie campaign. Smith then logged 19 tackles, an interception and four passes defended in 14 contests the following year.

Chicago was hoping to see Smith continue establishing himself as a key member of the secondary in 2025, but he suffered a torn patellar tendon last August and ended up missing the entire campaign as a result.

Well, earlier this week, Smith posted an Instagram story revealing that he is back on the field for the Bears in organized team activities, an indication that he will be competing for a prominent role on the squad in 2026.

Right now, Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson are tabbed as Chicago’s two starting cornerbacks, but Johnson himself has an incredibly checkered injury history, and Stevenson is in danger of losing his job because of his struggles.

While Smith still needs to rediscover his footing after missing so much time, there is certainly a chance that the 26-year-old could ultimately carve out a significant niche for the Bears next season.

Suddenly, Chicago’s choice to allow Wright to leave is starting to become more forgivable.

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