The Bears spent the earliest portions of their offseason hiring a new coaching staff. It has received near-universal praise, with an aggressive play to secure former Lions offensive coordinator and coveted coaching candidate Ben Johnson.

Then he added top coordinators featuring defensive mind Dennis Allen, plus a staff full of experienced position coaches including several with offensive play-calling experience.

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That was the extent of their ability until the 2025 NFL offseason formally kicked off. The league now looks toward the future after the Super Bowl, and while Johnson has more hiring on his plate, the overall focus will shift towards talent acquisition through free agency, the possibility of trades and the NFL draft.

Here’s a primer on the assets the Bears have available and those top players from the 2024 squad set to hit the open market, plus the key dates/deadlines ahead where the Bears can take action:

Bears salary cap space

(Numbers from OverTheCap.com and based on a projected $272.5 million cap)

Total cap space: $62.9 million

Effective cap space: $53.9 million (ranked No. 7 overall)

• NOTE: This is the projected total available after the Bears fill 51 roster spots and sign the rookies from their upcoming draft class.

Dead money: $2.3 million

Total cap liabilities: $214.6 million

Bears NFL draft picks

First round: No. 10 overall

Second round: No. 39 (from CAR), No. 41

Third round: No. 72

Fifth found: Draft slot TBD

Sixth round: Draft slot TBD (from PIT)

Seventh round: Draft slot TBD (from CLE); Draft slot TBD (from CIN)

Key offseason dates

Feb. 18: NFL clubs may designate franchise or transition players through March 4

Feb. 24-March 3: NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis

March 10-12: Clubs are permitted to negotiate contracts with certified agents of prospective unrestricted free agents from March 10 at 11 a.m. CT through March 12 at 2:59 p.m. CT. Players with no certified agent can contact clubs directly.

March 12: The new league years begins at 3 p.m. CT. Teams can then execute contracts to employ unrestricted free agents. Also, the trading period begins.

March 30-April 2: Annual league meeting in Palm Beach, Fla.

April 7: Clubs that have hired a new head coach can start offseason work programs. The Bears fall into this category.

April 18: Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

April 24-26: NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisc.

May 2-5; May 9-12: Clubs may hold rookie minicamps.