The Chicago Bears are aiming to navigate their first season under their new head coach Ben Johnson without any issues, but the next offseason will present an interesting situation that they will have to address.
Bears safety Jaquan Brisker is in the final year of his rookie contract, but has yet to be extended. Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton named Brisker as the one contract Chicago will have to make a tough decision on.
"Brisker, who missed 12 games because of a concussion last season, has played at a high level for most of his three years in the league. If he stays healthy through 2025, the Bears will likely offer him a new deal to maintain a budding group of defensive backs. Because of his absence for most of the previous season, Chicago may wait to see if he's back in top form before it signs him to an extension."
Is Brisker worth the risk, and is a new deal warranted?
Brisker has become everything the Bears have needed in their secondary since being selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He posted 100+ tackles in each of his first two seasons in the NFL. Last year, he was pacing for another season with over 100 tackles, but a concussion cut his time short with only five games played.
The Bears have leaned on Brisker to be the playmaker in the secondary, and he has stepped up. If it weren't for the injury last year, he would have already been given a new contract. Now he has to go prove himself one more season to get that next big deal.
Chicago would be wise to keep the secondary together, as it has been the defense's strength over the last year. Brisker with Kevin Byard III, Jaylon Johnson, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon have formed an unstoppable group that will only get better this season. As long as everyone stays healthy.
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Last year, it was Brisker, and now, going into training camp, it is Johnson, who has missed all of camp. The Bears hope to get everyone together once the season begins and keep the momentum going of the defense that has been building over the last two weeks.