The Chicago Bears received plenty of contributions from the 2025 draft class last year. But one rookie who didn’t join the party was cornerback Zah Frazier.
Selected in the fifth round of last year’s draft, the UTSA product was placed on the non-football injury list in August due to a personal matter and went on to miss the entire season. While he remained with the team through the matter and announced he was medically cleared in January, his spot on the team has been up in the air, and he appeared to have an uphill battle to make the team as free agency began last month.
A few weeks later, Frazier's stock could be trending up. Some departures in the secondary have opened up a chance to earn playing time, and it’s possible that the former Roadrunner could go a long way toward validating the Bears’ faith with a strong offseason program.
Zah Frazier Has a Golden Opportunity for Bears Ahead of NFL Draft
Free agency has only been open for a few weeks, but Frazier has moved up the depth chart by default. Top corner Nahshon Wright left Chicago for the New York Jets when the new league year began, and the team has been bearish (no pun intended) on Tyrique Stevenson as he was essentially benched upon Jaylon Johnson’s return to the lineup late in the season.
While Johnson and slot corner Kyler Gordon are projected as starters, Stevenson’s status is wide open. Even if he sticks around, this creates a battle for a starting spot among the players remaining on the roster.
Although Frazier didn’t play last year, he’s in a similar position to Terrell Smith, who missed the entire 2025 campaign with a torn patellar tendon suffered last preseason. Dallis Flowers, Jaylon Jones, and Dontae Manning are also on the roster, making it possible the Bears could add a cornerback in this month’s draft to build depth. But even if they do, Frazier should at least have the opportunity to compete for a job and a bigger role in his second season.
Frazier was an elite coverage corner at UTSA. According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed 18 catches for 246 yards and a touchdown with six interceptions, five pass breakups, and two penalties on 38 targets during the 2024 season.
The Football Gameplan Scouting Pro Football Draft Guide’s scouting report also spoke favorably to Frazier’s ability to generate turnovers, being “able to bait QBs into throwing the ball just so he can close and make a play.”
While he may have had a hard time getting playing time had he not been injured during his rookie year, it’s easy to see why defensive coordinator Dennis Allen may have been interested. On a defense that led the NFL in interceptions (23) and turnover rate (18.3 percent), Frazier’s ballhawking tendencies would have fit right in, and while there’s some work to do, it could be refined to have a meaningful role for the Bears.
It sets up a massive opportunity for the second-year corner. If he succeeds, he could push for an outside spot in the starting lineup. If he doesn’t, he could still claim a depth role, which was needed thanks to a slew of injuries last season.
All of it has Frazier’s outlook looking brighter a few weeks into the offseason and could keep it that way as the Bears begin his offseason program.