Bears can't overlook this priority in 2026 offseason despite big problems at hand

The Chicago Bears are going to need to recalibrate their roster after a strong run to the NFC Divisional round. Now, they face significant free agent decisions at key positions. One of the biggest questions is the secondary.

Courtney Cronin of ESPN went through the biggest offseason questions facing the Chicago Bears. She noted that the pass rush is the most important thing to address, but added that the secondary will have major questions as well.

"Given how injuries decimated the secondary, Chicago faces several pressing decisions on whether to retain the players that kept them afloat on defense. Safeties Kevin Byard III, who led the NFL with seven interceptions this season, and Jaquan Brisker are pending free agents. Cornerback Nahshon Wright is also a free agent after a career year with 5 INTs, 2 forced fumbles and 3 fumble recoveries. He started 15 games in place of Jaylon Johnson in 2025."
Courtney Cronin

What will the Chicago Bears do with their secondary in the 2026 offseason

This will be a major decision for the Bears. On the one hand, the team would not be anywhere close to where it is if it were not for the members of the secondary and all the turnovers they committed. They changed the game, and they did it when Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon were down. These two were supposed to lead the secondary, and even with their two best assets not playing at their best, the group still shone. That is hard to move on from.

On the other hand, there is a real chance that all three of the free agents will be gone. Byard will be 33 next season, and he did not look this young the year before. His seven interceptions are the most in a year since 2017, and he has seven combined since 2022.

This may not have been a fluke, but he was often in the right place at the right time, and the odds of him repeating that performance are low.

The same can be said for Nahshon Wright. Wright has been in the NFL since 2021 and has six career interceptions. Five of them came this season. Maybe everything clicked for Wright, or maybe he was in the right place at the right time, and the Bears can find another cornerback to fill the role.

Brisker is still young and could be on the rise. Still, he is coming off his best game, the coaches who drafted him are not there, and he will get the most offers on the free-agent market. If anyone prices themselves out of Chicago, it would be Brisker.

There are clear signs for all three to go, but they will just as quickly have three big holes at key positions. It would be hard to fill all of that in one offseason. It will be tough for the Bears to decide what to do.