underrated Bears – Chicago’s offseason work has been loud in all the right places, but the biggest leap in 2026 may come from two quieter names: edge rusher Austin Booker and defensive back Coby Bryant—whose roles could suddenly become matchup-changing.
The Chicago Bears aren’t content to be the offseason curiosity anymore. Even as attention naturally gravitates toward Caleb Williams. the team’s next step toward becoming a legitimate contender may come down to two lesser-known contributors—players who can turn opportunity into impact the way playoff teams are built.
In the 2026 NFL season, that case centers on edge rusher Austin Booker and defensive back Coby Bryant, both of whom have the kind of skill sets and surrounding circumstances that can turn them from supporting roles into real difference-makers.
The Bears’ direction in the building phase has been unmistakable. General manager Ryan Poles moved to address roster pain points and re-tool the club by prioritizing offensive insulation through free agency. Chicago signed former top-ten pick Jedrick Wills. The front office also added dynamic wideout Kalif Raymond.
Draft choices reflected a preference for versatility and raw physical temperament. Defensive back Dillon Thieneman was acquired in the draft room. Poles then targeted award-winning center Logan Jones while adding the vertical speed of weapon Zavion Thomas.
The aggression didn’t stop with the young pieces. Chicago also made a strategic veteran trade for center Garrett Bradbury—an episode in team building that raised the competitive baseline across the entire organization.
Now the emphasis shifts to the sleepers who could actually cash in on that work.
For Austin Booker. the opening is there because the Bears are shaping the kind of defensive environment that creates one-on-one matchups. Montez Sweat remains the headline name on the edge, and Jarrett is positioned to generate interior disruption. That combination changes how opposing offenses have to protect. Sweat drawing double teams means offenses can’t always keep every point covered. and it often forces protection decisions that leave secondary rushers isolated against individual blockers.
Booker’s physical profile fits the pass-rush mold teams covet in modern football. What makes this projection feel more grounded than wishful thinking is the defensive setup he’s entering—specifically designed to create favorable situations. If Sweat’s presence keeps the focus elsewhere and Jarrett constantly tests the pocket from the inside. offenses may find themselves facing Booker in cleaner matchups than they’d prefer.
The breakthrough doesn’t have to look like Booker instantly becoming a double-digit sack artist. Chicago’s defensive staff doesn’t need him to arrive overnight as the primary statistical story. What they need is conversion—turning pressures into game-changing plays. so that when he’s in the rhythm. it’s not just a driver of downs. but a disruptor of momentum.
If Booker provides a complementary rush opposite Sweat, the Bears’ defense becomes far more difficult to handle.
Coby Bryant has a different kind of breakout path, and it starts in the secondary. The Super Bowl champion brings versatility that gives Chicago options many teams simply don’t have. Throughout his career, Bryant has shown the ability to align in different spots across the defensive backfield. That adaptability matters even more in a defense that already features established outside corners.
With Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson handling perimeter assignments, opposing quarterbacks may choose to attack the middle areas of the field more frequently. That’s where Bryant can make an impact—using instincts and ball skills to play in the space where plays develop in front of him.
Bryant’s role isn’t just about preventing completions. The way he’s been able to create turnovers is the swing factor—those splash plays that often separate a good defense from a great one.
The Bears also face a schedule loaded with talented quarterbacks and explosive passing attacks. In those matchups, defensive backs who can adjust on the fly become invaluable. Bryant’s versatility helps Chicago disguise coverages more effectively while maintaining structural integrity throughout the defense.
There’s another practical advantage to how this season sets up for him. Bryant doesn’t enter with the weight of carrying the secondary. Instead, he can focus on maximizing the opportunities created by the talent surrounding him.
Hidden contributors decide whether a team hits its ceiling, and Chicago already knows what it’s getting from established veterans like Sweat, Jarrett, Johnson, and Joe Thuney. The bigger question is which complementary pieces can elevate the roster beyond expectations.
Booker and Bryant are two of the most compelling answers. Booker has the chance to become a disruptive secondary pass rusher. turning the attention created by Sweat into one-on-one opportunities he can exploit. Bryant has the versatility and instincts to become a turnover-producing playmaker—exactly the kind of defensive spark that changes the feel of a game.
Neither player enters 2026 carrying superstar expectations. That’s what makes them sleepers. But the combination of their skills, their roles, and the Bears’ broader roster construction gives both Austin Booker and Coby Bryant a clear path to meaningful leaps.
If the Bears are serious about moving from promising contender to legitimate threat, it won’t just be the headline names that decide the story.
Chicago Bears Austin Booker Coby Bryant 2026 NFL season Caleb Williams Montez Sweat Jarrett Jaylon Johnson Tyrique Stevenson Jedrick Wills Kalif Raymond Dillon Thieneman Logan Jones Zavion Thomas Garrett Bradbury Joe Thuney