The Chicago Bears have seen several familiar names leave the franchise this offseason, while new faces have been brought in as replacements via free agency. While players on both sides of the ball have been added to the fold, the defense has been a clear focus of GM Ryan Poles.
The Bears started with numerous additions including Coby Bryant, Devin Bush, Neville Gallimore, Cam Lewis, and Kentavious Street. They continued by re-signing several defenders including D'Marco Jackson, Daniel Hardy, Elijah Hicks, and Jaylon Jones. Those moves show that Chicago is doing its best to cover all possible bases during free agency, but can lead to questions about what it means for new players who were already under contract including Zah Frazier.
With two players in the secondary retained and another pair of newcomers coming to Chicago, it makes the path to playing time that much steeper for the 2025 fifth-round pick.
Zah Frazier Will Have to Earn His Place With Bears' Defense This Season
While the competition he faced at the University of Texas-San Antonio wasn't the best that college football had to offer, there is no denying that Frazier has all the physical tools needed to be a contributing piece in the secondary, as he stands 6'3" and ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the 2025 combine.
After missing the entirety of his rookie season due to personal matters, Frazier will enter his second season as a pro at a much older age than most of his peers from the 2025 draft class. Frazier turns 26 years old in October, which has to be a bit concerning for Poles and the front office, given they have yet to see what he can do against live competition in a regular-season contest.
Now, with the addition of Cam Lewis, as well as the other players in the secondary who were either brought in from outside franchises or retained by Chicago, the Bears could be signaling that they aren't as sold on Frazier being a contributor down the line as they were entering the 2025 campaign.
With players like Kyler Gordon, Jaylon Johnson, and Tyrique Stevenson still on the roster, Frazier now has to prove that he still possesses the same upside as he did over a year ago, in addition to beating out solidified veterans for playing time.
It's not impossible for Frazier does just that once he hits the field for offseason activities and training camp. The probability of that being the case, though, seems slim. With these veterans joining the DB room as well, perhaps Poles and the Bears' front office feel the same way, emphasizing the need for other experienced options to be available for Dennis Allen and the defensive staff to work with.