Chicago Bears’ $48 million nightmare has no end in sight

Last offseason, the Chicago Bears attempted to address their pass rush by signing Dayo Odeyingbo to a three-year, $48 million contract, a move that was well-regarded at the time thanks to Odeyingbo’s largely successful run with the Indianapolis Colts.

However, Odeyingbo played just eight games with the Bears last year before tearing his Achilles, knocking him out for the remainder of the 2025 campaign and putting his status for next season in question. Even worse, the 26-year-old managed just 21 tackles, a lone sack and four quarterback hits during his time on the field.

It marked the least productive run of Odeyingbo’s NFL career, and now, with his future potentially in jeopardy due to the severity of his injury, Chicago is in a very difficult spot.

So why don’t the Bears just cut their losses and dump the Vanderbilt product? Well, unfortunately, it isn’t that simple.

Chicago Bears are facing a difficult situation with Dayo Odeyingbo

Odeyingbo has two years remaining on his contract, and while Chicago can cut him, it would cost the team dearly.

Releasing the former second-round pick before June 1 would result in a $24.5 million dead cap hit and would only pocket $4 million in savings for 2026. If the Bears designate him as a post-June 1 cut, the cap hit drops to $20 million, but the savings also plummet to just $500,000.

So, yeah: Chicago isn’t going to outright release Odeyingbo. Especially not given the fact that the Bears already have enough cap problems this year, and they can finally see a light at the end of the tunnel after 2026 as far as their financial situation is concerned. Why ruin it?

A trade would be great, as Chicago would take just a $4.5 million dead cap hit while reaping $16 million in savings this year, but what team in its right mind would swing a trade for Odeyingbo given his health status and his contract? It isn’t happening.

Basically, the Bears are stuck with Odeyingbo and will be forced to make it work, which might be part of the reason why they didn’t select a pass rusher in this year’s NFL Draft (their confidence in Austin Booker might also be a reason).

If Odeyingbo is able to return healthy, perhaps he can recapture his production from his better days with the Colts, like back in 2023 when he racked up 38 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 17 quarterback hits.

If not? Then Odeyingbo will comprise one of the worst free-agent signings Chicago has made in recent memory.

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