The Chicago Bears are more concerned about their push for a playoff spot in Ben Johnson's first season as head coach right now, but the front office surely has an eye on the offseason already.
In terms of looming free agents for 2026, some Bears' players have looked like a top priority to be retained all along, while others have come out of nowhere to put themselves in that category.
But financial resources are not infinite, of course. So the Bears will have some tough (or not so tough) decisions to make, in the name of clearing cap space and allocating those resources in as ideal a fashion as possible toward the 2026 edition of the roster.
As is the case every offseason, some notable names Bears fans have become accustomed to in recent years will be in another uniform next season. So will be welcome departures, and others will be derided as unwelcome subtractions.
Bears predicted to lose one of their notable 2026 free agents to NFC team
In his early prediction of the Dallas Cowboys' 2026 offseason, K.D. Drummond of Cowboys Wire has Bears safety Jaquan Brisker among the team's proposed free agent signings.
Drummond predicted a three-year, $33 million deal for Brisker, which closely aligns with where Spotrac currently projects his market value (three years, $35.5 million).
After missing all but five games last season due to a lingering concussion, Brisker has had the type of contract year he needed to have on the health front, playing every defensive snap for the Bears over the first 13 games this season. He has also been pretty productive, with 64 total tackles (third on the team), five pass breakups, and an interception.
The question is if the Bears will make a concerted effort to keep their former second-round pick. There's a fair chance they won't if his market stretches north of $10 million per year over a three-year deal. If Brisker has several suitors,
There is a tie for Brisker on the Cowboys' coaching staff to fortify the potential fit when 2026 free agency comes, with former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus currently serving as the defensive coordinator. But Drummond's mock offseason included proposed coaching changes, and firing Eberflus was No. 1 on that list.
Read more: Bears' defense predicted to give Shedeur Sanders nightmares in Week 15
That said, the Cowboys could use an upgrade in talent at safety. So even if Eberflus is one-and-done running the defense, Brisker is not hard to see as a fit. It's also fair to assume, as long as he finishes the season solidly, they won't be the only team with interest in plucking him from the Bears.