Three Bears star players earned spots on the NFL's top free agent list. Their impressive performance means big decisions loom for Chicago this offseason.
The Chicago Bears had a very talented team on both sides of the ball last season.
The harsh reality of the NFL is that it's always hard to keep a team like that together with how contracts are.
The Bears had a lot of firsts in 2025. Chicago had its first playoff appearance since 2020 and NFC North title since 2018. The Bears beat the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card to win their first playoff game since the 2010 season.
As a result of the good season the Bears had, contracts were going to come up for many of their key players. A few big names for the Bears are set to hit free agency when it opens in March.
NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal ranked the top 101 free agents in the NFL this offseason. Chicago had three players make the list, and here is where they ranked:
S Jaquan Brisker, No. 51
The highest-ranked Bears' free agent was safety Jaquan Brisker.
Brisker just had a very productive season in 2025, finishing with 93 total tackles, one interception, one TFL and one sack. His growing market value was always going to make an extension with Chicago increasingly unlikely.
He will demand a lot of money in free agency if the Bears can't re-sign him.
CB Nahshon Wright, No. 55
Nahshon Wright was a true underdog story for the Bears.
After not fitting in with the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings, it felt like Wright finally found his home with the Bears. Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon missed most of the season with injuries, and Wright stepped up in a big way when he needed to.
He still had his bad moments, but he still had a breakout year. The corner had 80 total tackles, five interceptions and three TFLs.
After initially signing a $1.1 million deal with Chicago last offseason, his market value is now expected to be around $16.7 million.
Wright has earned himself quite the payday.
S Kevin Byard, No. 86
This seems a little low for someone who dominated in the secondary for Chicago this past season. However, being doubted is nothing new for Byard.
The 33-year-old proved everyone wrong in 2025, leading the league with seven interceptions and also recording 93 total tackles and four TFLs.
Losing a veteran leader like Byard would probably hurt the most out of all the potential free agents from the Bears. Hopefully, General Manager Ryan Poles can find a way to bring Byard back, but if not, he will be a steal for another team in free agency.