With key players demanding higher contracts, the Bears eye a Super Bowl champion's undervalued cornerback for a smart, budget-friendly secondary upgrade.
Unfortunately, the Chicago Bears can't keep everyone.
It's a reality that all teams must face in the NFL each offseason, and the Bears are no different. Many valuable players are set to hit the free agent market when it opens on March 11.
Key players such as Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker just had their contracts expire. It looks like Chicago can only keep one of those players with their rising market value.
Others like Nahshon Wright, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Braxton Jones and Andrew Billings will also become free agents if a new deal isn't reached with the Bears. The market value of nearly all those players has increased, according to Spotrac.
One of the biggest risers was Wright, whose value increased from $1.1 million to $16.7 million, making it very difficult to give him an extension.
While there's still a possibility he could sign an extension with Chicago, the Bears could also go to free agency and find a much cheaper option at cornerback.
The Seattle Seahawks may have won the Super Bowl, but they still have to make some contract decisions, too. The Bears could find a good replacement for Wright without having to break the bank in Josh Jobe.
According to Spotrac, Jobe's market value is $9.7 million, which is considerably cheaper than what it would take to bring Wright back.
Jobe was in a similar situation to Wright's, as he signed a one-year "prove it" deal with the Seahawks. Jobe, too, had a breakout year, finishing with 54 total tackles, one interception, and 0.5 sacks.
Jobe hasn't quite been the journeyman that Wright was in the first few years of his NFL career.
Jobe went undrafted in 2022 but signed with the Philadelphia Eagles. He spent two seasons in Philadelphia before being waived and picked up by the Seahawks, where he has played ever since.
With a decision looming on whether to sign either Byard or Brisker, finding a more affordable option in the secondary, like Jobe, could be a great move for Chicago. Jobe has proven he has what it takes to be a cornerback in this league and would be a solid free agent signing for the Bears.
It will be tough to see Wright go if the Bears can't afford to give him an extension. Jobe could be a suitable replacement if the Bears want to save some money.