The Bears' GM has his sights set on re-signing a Pro Bowl playmaker who led the league in interceptions, making him a top free agency priority.
The Chicago Bears enter free agency with plenty of options.
Multiple players are now free agents after having their contracts run out with the Bears. There are even some starters who will be free agents this offseason if the franchise doesn't re-sign them.
Among those players are safeties Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. Both of whom have said that they would love to come back. Byard was on a two-year, $15 million deal, via Spotrac.
Byard led the NFL with seven interceptions, while Brisker recorded 93 total tackles, one interception, one sack and one TFL.
At the end-of-season media availability, General Manager Ryan Poles was asked about bringing Byard back and revealed that the safety is one of the team's main priorities to re-sign in free agency.
"Yeah, like I said, we're going to take a step back and kind of evaluate that and put that puzzle together," Poles said. "It's actually four safeties that are not under contract for next year. So, I got a lot of faith in our process that we'll do that. I think Kevin's a special player. I have no problem saying, you know, that's a player that we would like to have back."
It hasn't been the easiest last couple of seasons for Byard.
He spent the majority of his first few seasons in the NFL with the Tennessee Titans from 2016-2023. He was then traded during the 2023 season to the Philadelphia Eagles. Byard was then on the move again, joining the Bears in 2024.
Byard had something to prove with Chicago, and he did just that, making his third-ever Pro Bowl in 2025. On top of leading the NFL in interceptions, he also had 93 total tackles and four TFLs.
Whether the Bears can give Brisker another contract amid cap restraints remains to be seen. Losing both starting safeties would be a significant blow to the defense.
Other free agents for Chicago include Theo Benedet, Braxton Jones, Olamide Zaccheaus, Jonathan Owens, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Nahshon Wright and Andrew Billings.
Poles will have some big decisions to make in the offseason.
Another will be about where the team goes at left tackle now that Ozzy Trapilo's patellar injury will sideline him until late in the 2026 season. Trapilo suffered the injury late in the Green Bay Packers Wild Card game.
The Bears may need to bring back either Jones or Benedet, as well as another veteran to fill Trapilo's spot.
Players like Byard don't come around often. Hopefully, fans can see him in a Chicago uniform next season.