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.

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.

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.

The Chicago Bears stadium issue is reaching a boiling point. For three years, the McCaskey family and team president Kevin Warren have tried to find solutions with the Illinois state government on getting one built. They’ve agreed to finance the entire construction themselves, which is something no other teams are doing. All they require in return is help with infrastructure to make it viable and some clarity on property taxes. The state has done nothing but drag its feet on the issue, and the Bears have about run out of patience.

Arlington Heights Mayor Jim Tinaglia has been on the front lines of this issue for a long time. He’s worked tirelessly trying to find solutions that will ensure the Bears can move forward with their plan to build a stadium on the Arlington Racetrack property as originally planned. There is one big problem. The current property tax laws in Cook County make such a project impossible. Tinaglia explained on Waddle & Silvy that the setup for a $4 billion stadium would put them on the hook for at least $100 million in property taxes per year. Since it’s a commercial building, it would get up to $350 million.

No business entity on the planet can afford that, much less a sports team. For context, the highest property tax rate for an NFL team in the country is SoFi Stadium in California at $8.5 million.

The Chicago Bears have every reason to be upset with the state.

This doesn’t have to be a difficult situation. All they ask is that the government cap property taxes at a reasonable level. They wouldn’t mind paying the same rate as SoFi. Yet Governor J.B. Pritzker and his government continue to drag their feet, insisting they have other priorities and can’t be bothered to fit the Bears into their current schedule. These delaying tactics finally pushed the McCaskeys to break out the nuclear option, accepting inroads from the state of Indiana about possibly moving to the northwest region of the state.

A bill has already passed the House that would give the Chicago Bears property tax breaks and additional funding to help with infrastructure at any site they wish to build on. It is a superior offer in every way to anything Illinois has done. From a business standpoint, the decision is easy. However, the Bears know the precedent they will set if they go down that path. The organization has called Illinois home since its inception way back in the 1910s. They’ve been in Chicago since 1920. They’ve made it clear they want to stay.

They just aren’t being given any choice.

Illinois has been given a deadline on this.

Based on the typical state protocol, the governor sets the budget for the coming year on February 18th. That means some sort of financial work must be done to help the Chicago Bears before then. They’ve made it known to the state that early March is the deadline for this. If Illinois tries another delaying tactic by insisting they need more time, that will be the whole ballgame. The McCaskeys will accept Indiana’s offer and begin the process of finding a new building site.

There is no shortage of viable options, too.

It all comes down to the team’s preference. Maximizing revenue generation is a big one. It is likely they would prefer to stay on the lakefront. Beyond that, it’s pure speculation. What we know for sure is the Bears have one foot out the door. Illinois has pushed them to this point. Neither side is innocent in this, but every detail shows the Bears have made more than enough concessions to deserve reciprocation.

They have received none. Now, Pritzker gets to decide what his legacy will be. Does he want to be known as the man who let one of the most storied franchises in professional sports leave the state after more than a century? He has at most three weeks to make that decision.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: How much would the new Bears stadium cost?

A: Projections have it being just over $2 billion

Q: Why hasn’t Governor Pritzker addressed this issue already?

A: Pritzker said he will not give any Illinois taxpayer money to billionaires for what he calls “vanity” projects

Q: How quickly can a stadium be built if a resolution is reached?

A: Estimates say it will take three years from shovels in the ground

It’s been felt for some time that a divorce is approaching between the Las Vegas Raiders and superstar pass rusher Maxx Crosby. There had been tension building for over a year, but the team’s decision to place him on IR in a blatant attempt to tank for the #1 pick was the final straw. Crosby left the team and eventually had knee surgery. It was hard to imagine he would ever play another down in silver and black. Still, the lack of updates on the matter left many wondering what was happening.

Jay Glazer of FOX Sports finally broke the silence. In an interview with Yahoo Sports, he confirmed what everybody has suspected. Crosby is all but out in Las Vegas. That wasn’t the surprise. It came when Glazer revealed the likely cost to get him. Due to the expected market of teams involved, he believes Crosby will fetch a higher price than Dallas Cowboys star Micah Parsons did when traded to the Green Bay Packers. For those who don’t remember, it was two 1st round picks and former Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

That means the Bears are looking at two 1st rounders and either a good player with additional picks attached or probably another high pick like a 2nd with another mid rounder as well.

• 1st in 2026
• 1st in 2027
• 2nd in 2026
• 4th/5th in 2027

Would you give that up for Crosby?

The Bears are now more unlikely than ever to pursue Maxx Crosby.

GM Ryan Poles isn’t opposed to aggressive trades. He’s already proven willing to do so in the past with deals for Montez Sweat and Chase Claypool. However, he has a ceiling he refuses to go past. That isn’t surprising. Throughout his time in Kansas City as a scout and personnel director, the only time the Chiefs made a trade anywhere close to that value was moving up for Patrick Mahomes in 2017. Crosby does not bring the same potential impact to a team as a young quarterback.

Never mind the fact that trades of this magnitude have almost never resulted in a Super Bowl championship. Since 2000, there have been four trades involving a pass rusher going to another team for at least one 1st round pick. None of those teams that acquired said player won a championship, including the Bears with Khalil Mack. Maybe Maxx Crosby changes that batting average, but it feels like the juice won’t be worth the squeeze.

Great pass rushers tend to fizzle out by their mid-30s. That means Crosby has probably 4-6 seasons of top production left. This is if he stays healthy. Some people might see that as a worthwhile gamble. Don’t expect the Bears to be in that group.

The worst thing you can do going into a draft is have assumptions about what your team will do. In years past with the Chicago Bears, it was relatively easy. They were constantly picking in the top 10. That meant the odds were pretty favorable that they would be focused on quarterbacks, offensive tackle, and pass rushers. People have assumed that it would be much the same this year. That might be a mistake. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune made sure to point that out.

Yes, the Bears do need a left tackle, along with defensive tackle and edge rusher help. However, he believes GM Ryan Poles’ list of possible positions might be more extensive than we think.

I’d bet Poles is hunting for an impact player at No. 25, and that could come from a lot of positions. I don’t think anyone viewed tight end as the Bears’ top need before they drafted Colston Loveland in the first round last year. Similarly, they weren’t in need of a wide receiver when they selected Luther Burden III in Round 2. Both will be core building blocks for the future.

You probably can cross off a few positions, but I’d add safety, linebacker and cornerback. Heck, if there’s a running back the Bears believe is electric, that wouldn’t be a stunner. It’s more important to get impact players, especially early in the draft, than it is to draft for need.

Even with the departure of Nahshon Wright, it doesn’t feel like cornerback will be a focus. The Bears have Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, and Tyrique Stevenson all under contract. Linebacker is possible, but that doesn’t feel like a priority position. Safety, on the other hand, is definitely in the conversation

The Chicago Bears haven’t gone safety in the 1st round in a LONG time.

That fateful moment came in 1990 when they selected Mark Carrier 6th overall. He would set the team’s rookie record with 10 interceptions and go on to become a three-time Pro Bowler. Since then, the Bears have relied on a steady mix of veterans and later draft picks to supplement the position. Now with Kevin Byard, Jaquan Brisker, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson all becoming free agents, it makes sense the team would look at safety as a viable option in the 1st round.

History might be on their side, too. Here is every safety selected in the 20s range (Bears pick 25th) since 2000.

Like any position, there have been misses. However, by and large, teams that have selected a safety in this range have tended to get anywhere from a decent starter to a Hall of Famer. This doesn’t include the bevy of excellent safeties who’ve gone at the top of the 2nd round like Budda Baker, Xavier McKinney, Jalen Pitre, and Nick Emmanwori.

Chicago appears to have a strong class incoming, too.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com revealed his top 50 prospects for the 2026 draft a week ago. He had three safeties listed as 1st round prospects. Caleb Downs is the obvious name. Most consider him the next Ed Reed/Eric Berry type, who is a do-it-all talent. The Chicago Bears aren’t likely to see him on the board when they pick. The other two are far more plausible, starting with Dillon Thieneman of Oregon. Lauded for his intelligence, he can identify what offenses are doing and adjust accordingly. His size and aggressiveness make him an excellent run-stopper, while his eight interceptions prove he can play good coverage.

The other is Emmanuel McNeil-Warren from Toledo. He is more your classic strong safety with terrific size and a willingness to fly downhill and hit somebody. Runners rarely escape him once he has a bead on them. Better still, he’s developed a knack for punching the ball out. He could technically be called the Charles Tillman of safeties.

With Jaquan Brisker expected to leave, either one of those players would be an ideal replacement. They can play the same style as him and may have more upside in coverage. The odds say at least one of them will be available at #25. From there, it comes down to whether somebody at another position is higher on the Bears’ board. Make no mistake, though. Safety is in play.