The Chicago Bears' secondary went through a major overhaul. They lost Kevin Byard, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and Jaquan Brisker in free agency, so they didn't waste a second to bolster their safety room with a proven veteran.
Luring Coby Bryant away from the Seattle Seahawks was a tall order, especially after a Super Bowl-winning season. He's now primed to have a primary role in Dennis Allen's defense, and a two-year, $28.5 million deal certainly was more than enough to sweeten the deal.
While that move didn't make as much noise, it certainly didn't go unnoticed. Bleacher Report analyst Moe Moton chose it among the 25 best moves of the offseason, deeming him a 'proven veteran joining a playoff contender.'
Coby Bryant will have a huge role for the Chicago Bears
"In free agency, the Chicago Bears lost three-time All-Pro Kevin Byard, but they signed a 27-year-old ascending ball hawk in Coby Bryant. He played a key role in the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl-winning defense, recording four interceptions and seven pass breakups while allowing one touchdown and a 54 passer rating in coverage. For comparison, Byard allowed seven touchdowns and a 98.6 passer rating last year. The Bears upgrade at safety," wrote Moton.
Bryant ranked third in interceptions last season (4). He also registered seven pass breakups, four tackles for loss, and one forced fumble, holding opposing quarterbacks to a passer rating of 78.4. He was also a strong contributor in the box, posting a 70.3 Pro Football Focus run defense grade with 14 run stops in 332 snaps. That used to be his Achilles heel, but he's made big strides on that aspect of his game.
The Bears' defense relied way too much on takeaways last season, and that's not sustainable over time. That said, playing for Al Harris might bring out the best in Bryant's game, given that he's always been a specialist in helping his defensive backs post career bests in interceptions.
This team plays in the most competitive division in football, and adding a battle-tested defensive back with Super Bowl experience will elevate their floor and ceiling. Next to star rookie Dillon Thieneman, the Bears will have the best safety tandem in the NFC North.
Bryant isn't a superstar by any means, but he's someone who does all the little things it takes to win. He won't make a lot of mistakes, and as someone who's already been there and done that, he'll provide some much-needed experience to a young team.
Defensive coordinator Dennis Allen might be on the hot seat after a disappointing first year in charge of the team. And while the front office didn't do much to help him in 2026, they at least gave him a glue guy who can make a big impact in coverage and also contribute against the running game.
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