Bears' 6 Biggest Priorities After 2024 Minicamp

3. Help Kevin Byard return to form

The Bears weren't great in shutting down the pass last year. They finished 25th in the NFL with 4,043 yards surrendered and 29th with 31 touchdowns. They return the majority of the same defensive backs, with Jaylon Johnson leading the way at cornerback.

Chicago seems to be banking on players such as Tyrique Stevenson and Kyler Gordon taking the next step in their progression, which doesn't seem unreasonable given their talent. But that doesn't mean they didn't make any moves in the offseason — because they did move on from Eddie Jackson and replaced him with Kevin Byard.

Jackson was once a turnover waiting to happen but fell out of favor in recent years due to issues in coverage. He remains unsigned and might have to wait for an injury to get his next chance to fight for a roster spot.

As for Byard, he's a two-time All-Pro and Pro Bowler who was one of the best in the game during his time with the Tennessee Titans. He was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles near the deadline in 2023 and played well in 10 starts — but didn't do enough for them to keep him around.

Now in Chicago, he adds some much-needed experience and coverage ability. He might also improve his play due to the talent around him. While the Bears secondary hasn't put it all together, they've used a lot of premium draft capital on their guys. There's a chance this group could be better, especially if they can get Byard remotely close to his All-Pro form.