Dayo Odeyingbo Named Bears’ Most Overpaid Player Entering 2026
Dayo Odeyingbo has been labeled the Bears’ most overpaid player entering 2026, raising questions about his role and impact moving forward.
The Chicago Bears made a calculated bet on defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo last offseason. And, right now, it’s not looking great.
A recent league-wide evaluation labeled Odeyingbo as Chicago’s most overpaid player heading into 2026, pointing to a rough first eight games with the Bears before his season ended after he suffered a torn Achilles.
It’s starting to look like the gamble Ryan Poles took on Odeyingbo may not pay off.
Odeyingbo's Slow Start Before the Injury
Odeyingbo arrived in Chicago on a three-year, $48 million deal, expected to build on the flashes he showed with the Indianapolis Colts.
It never really got going.
Through eight games, he recorded one sack and two tackles for loss, numbers that fall well short of expectations for a player brought in to help stabilize the Bears' defensive front.
Then came the torn Achilles in Week 9, which ended his season and shifted the conversation from production to a long injury recovery.
The 2026 Cap Hit Raises the Stakes for Dayo Odeyingbo
Odeyingbo is set to carry a $20.5 million cap hit in 2026, which puts him in a range where teams expect impactful production, not just projection.
That doesn’t leave much room for patience inside Halas Hall, especially after a free agency period that was limited because of contracts like Odeyingbo's.
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Achilles injuries are among the most difficult for defensive linemen to bounce back from, particularly for players whose games rely on power and explosiveness at the point of attack.
This is the second time Odeyingbo has suffered a torn Achilles. His first one occurred in 2021 while he was training for the NFL Draft.
Bears Will Be Patient With Odeyingbo, For Now
At the same time, Odeyingbo's time with the Bears is far from over.
Chicago didn’t sign Odeyingbo based on one year of production. They signed him based on traits, versatility, and the expectation that he could take another step forward.
That opportunity hasn’t disappeared; it’s just been delayed.
If he returns healthy and closer to the player he was in Indianapolis, this conversation looks very different.
What It Means for the Chicago Bears’ Defensive Front
Chicago’s defensive line still feels like a work in progress.
Between Odeyingbo’s uncertainty and the need for more consistent edge pressure, the Bears are likely to keep investing in edge rushers during the 2026 NFL Draft.
That doesn’t mean they’ve moved on from Odeyingbo. Instead, it means they can’t afford to rely solely on him.
The Bears' Bottom Line
Calling Dayo Odeyingbo the Chicago Bears’ most overpaid player right now is more about timing than anything else.
The production wasn’t there in 2025. The injury made it worse. And the contract amplifies both.
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But the final verdict won’t come until he’s back on the field.
If Odeyingbo returns to form and reaches the expectations Poles and the coaching staff has for him, this time of ranking quickly shifts from a concern to a footnote.
