The Chicago Bears have lots of in-house free agents to sort through before they can start thinking about making any new additions. By far the most important position to sort out is safety. Four players are set to hit the open market next month, including both of their primary starters, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. The Bears are $10 million over the salary cap at the moment, so general manager Ryan Poles has some work to do before he can think about extending anybody. The obvious question is, who will they prioritize?
Adam Hoge of CHGO believes the most likely path ahead is they will focus on Byard. Though 33 years old, he had seven interceptions last season and is widely regarded as a core team leader. Plus, he will likely be cheaper. Retain Byard and then let other teams determine Brisker’s market. If the price isn’t too steep, see if you can keep him, too. Otherwise, let him walk.
Kevin Byard sees the big picture.
Last month, the All-Pro stated he didn’t expect any momentum on a new contract. The Bears were still sorting through various things. However, he told Hoge & Jahns that things should start picking up at the scouting combine in Indianapolis on February 23rd. That is where the top executives of every team gather, as well as the top agents of every prospect. Those agents also represent most players set to become free agents. It is why you often see a lot of action, whether in trades or contract extensions.
More than anything, Kevin Byard wants to return because he can sense something big is building. Few organizations can get the head coach and quarterback right at the same time. From what he’s seen this past season, the Bears nailed it with Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams. He doesn’t want to miss out on what that combination can become. Remember, he played with Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni in Philadelphia and never spoke about them like he does Johnson and Williams.
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That is incredibly telling.
Finding the right price shouldn’t be too difficult for Byard if he wants to stay.
Older players never get massive extensions due to obvious health risks. The Bears signed Kevin Byard to a two-year, $15 million deal in 2024. It feels like they would bump that to around $8 million per year, which is a $500,000 pay raise. He gets some extra money without forcing the Bears to put additional strain on their salary cap. The sticking point will be guarantees.
| Name | Age | Contract |
| Harrison Smith | 36 | 2-year, $10.25 million |
| Eric Murray | 31 | 3-year, $19.5 million |
| Jimmie Ward | 33 | 1-year, $10.5 million |
Normally, Byard would be looking at around $5-6 million per year. His outstanding 2025 season will give that a bump. It will likely be around 70% guaranteed. It will be a three-year deal at most, but two years tends to be the max for players of his age. Once that hurdle is cleared, the Bears will seek answers on Brisker and C.J. Gardner-Johnson. How that goes will determine how aggressive they are in the upcoming draft to find safety help.
