The Chicago Bears are at risk of becoming a one-year wonder after their miraculous run to the Divisional Round of the 2025 playoffs. While the offense is certainly headed in the right direction, the defense could fall apart if general manager Ryan Poles doesn't manage it correctly.
Multiple key members of the Bears' secondary are about to hit free agency. The group was the strength of the defense last season, forcing turnovers at a high rate.
Kevin Byard, Nahshon Wright, and Jaquan Brisker could all earn significant pay bumps if they hit free agency. The Bears could choose to bring some or all of them back, but the clock is ticking on their decision. With free agency kicking off on March 11, Chicago doesn't have any time to waste.
Bears have to move fast on pending free agent defensive backs
It's great to see underrated players produce so many interceptions, but the production of these three defensive backs has put Ryan Poles in an impossible situation. In all likelihood, the Bears can't afford to bring all three players back in 2026. According to Spotrac, these three defenders are expected to earn around a combined $34 million per year in free agency. With limited cap space already, Chicago likely won't be able to afford all of those deals.
At least one of them will have to go.
So, with just days remaining before free agency, Poles has a difficult decision to make. Does he dish out big contracts to defenders like Brisker and Wright, who weren't star players prior to 2025, or does he stick with the older, but more consistent, Byard?
The decision he makes could play a major role in determining the Bears' success in 2026 and beyond. Unfortunately, there isn't an easy answer.
Wright was incredibly productive in terms of forcing turnovers last season, but interceptions are such a volatile statistic. Is it worth it to give him a massive contract when the Bears already have other talented cornerbacks on the roster?
Byard is a clear leader in the secondary, but does it make sense to pay a 32-year-old while letting younger players walk away?
Brisker may be the most important of the three. He's still relatively young and has been solid for multiple seasons, but the Bears might still be hesitant to pay him over $10 million per year.
Read more: 3 Bears veterans Ryan Poles should write blank checks for before they leave
It's an impossible set of decisions, and Poles has limited time to make them.