The Chicago Bears' secondary was the strength of its defense a year ago, but it has taken a few hits in the opening days of free agency. After losing Nahshon Wright to the New York Jets on Tuesday, the Bears lost one of their leaders on Wednesday when Kevin Byard reportedly agreed to a one-year, $9 million contract with the New England Patriots, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
The Bears weren’t completely blindsided by this decision after agreeing to terms with former Seattle Seahawks safety Coby Bryant on a three-year, $40 million contract earlier in the week. But it leaves a big spot at the other safety spot. While Chicago re-signed Elijah Hicks to retain some of their depth, it also brought the question of what could happen to fellow free agent Jaquan Brisker.
Byard’s departure could open the possibility for Brisker to come back to Chicago. But there are factors that hint that’s not the case, and it continues to be likely he’ll be playing somewhere else in 2026.
Bears Likely to Replace Kevin Byard Through the Draft Instead of Signing Jaquan Brisker
The biggest hint that Byard isn’t coming back came from Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune earlier this week. Speaking during an appearance on the Mully & Haugh Show on 104.3 The Score on Tuesday, Biggs correctly hinted that it was “unlikely” that Byard would re-sign with the Bears and also wanted to add another safety in the NFL Draft over bringing Brisker back.
“I think I’ve been pretty adamant all along that I don’t think there’s a future with the organization for Jaquan Brisker,” Biggs said. “I think they’re moving on there. I think the most likely scenario is that they add some more players at the position. …You’re hoping to find your next safety who can be here for a while in the draft.”
To Biggs’s point, this is a good year to look for a safety in the draft. Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is unlikely to fall to the Bears with the 25th overall pick, but other options include Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, who could go in the first round. Other options include LSU’s A.J. Haulcy, USC’s Kamari Ramsey, and Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley in a class that could produce multiple starters.
While the draft is one big sign Brisker is done, so was his final year in Chicago. Brisker played well, logging 93 total tackles, including a sack with an interception and eight pass defenses, but it seemed like both sides knew it was the end, and general manager Ryan Poles seemed more concerned about losing Byard than Brisker when speaking at the end of the season.
“We’re going to take a step back and evaluate that,” Poles said via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Kevin’s a special player. I have no problem saying we’d like to have him back.”
With a projected market value of $11.1 million from Spotrac and a history of concussions, Brisker is too much of a risk compared to a younger, cheaper safety that could take his place. It makes the door to return likely closed, even as Byard heads to New England and only leaves the question of where Brisker will end up in the coming weeks.