One free agent's projection would certainly help the Bears' issues in secondary

The Chicago Bears' needs are becoming well-defined as the team enters free agency, and you are starting to see this reflected in the analysis. Everyone is trying to match up the best defensive linemen, safeties, and even left tackles to the team. One name that has recently been connected to the Bears is Kam Curl.

Aaron Schatz of ESPN projected one free agent option for every team in the NFL. For the Bears, he projected Curl.

"Both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III are free agents, so even if one of them returns, the Bears will need help at the safety position. Curl can play either deep or in the box, depending on what Chicago needs and which of their veterans is re-signed in free agency."
Aaron Schatz

Will the Chicago Bears pursue Kam Curl in free agency

This is similar to the idea that Bryan Cook would be a fit for the Bears. It makes sense to a degree, but not enough to make it a perfect fit for the team. First, it is slightly better than Cook because he is projected to make less than Cook. Curl is projected to get $10 million per year, per Spotrac.

It is less than what Cook was projected to be, which is good because the Bears want to save money at safety. However, it is still about the same price as what Jaquan Brisker is going to get on the market.

Curl has more postseason success, and they are the same age, but the difference between the two is not significant. Brisker has already played in the defense, so if the Bears really wanted to spend this kind of money on safety, why wouldn’t they extend Brisker? The fit makes more sense.

The Bears are unlikely to sign Brisker because they want to save money and spread it across other positions, not pay another safety the same contract. Chicago has a bigger need along the defensive line, and they need a stopgap at left tackle for the next season. That, plus a few young players expecting contracts, has the Bears cap-conscious.

Safeties who fit the mold more are Nick Cross, Kyle Dugger, Nick Scott, Xavier Woods, Alohi Gillman, and Ifeatu Melifonwu. These safeties are all projected to get $6 million or less. The Bears can sign one of them, bring back Kevin Byard cheaply, and they can put the resources into a better presence along the pass rush.

That is the smarter way to go about it, and the best free agents to project to Chicago should be along the defensive line. There are two holes, and analysts see that and want to fill it, but Chicago has a bigger need right now.