Will the Chicago Bears Re-Sign Their Key Safety?
The Chicago Bears were a few plays away from advancing to the NFC Conference Championship for the first time since 2010. While a valiant effort led them into overtime, the Los Angeles Rams were able to get the final blow and end Chicago’s magical season. It was one of the Bears' best performances in recent history, winning the NFC North Division, earning 11 wins, and advancing to the NFL Playoffs with a win over their rival, the Green Bay Packers. Filled with magical fourth-quarter comebacks, both the offense and defense for Chicago would always come through in the final quarter. Despite a very bright future for the organization, they will have to let some of their players go this offseason to keep the salary cap intact.
Safety Jaquan Brisker was drafted in 2022 by the Bears and has become a popular part of the defense. This season, he struggled with injuries but was still able to put up good numbers with one interception, one sack, and 52 solo tackles. In his four years combined with the Bears, he’s had 214 solo tackles, seven sacks, four forced fumbles, and four interceptions. Coming off last season, where Brisker only played five games, this season was much more positive for the 26-year-old. Nevertheless, releasing him could be the move for Chicago to save cap space.
With his history of concussions, Brisker hasn’t been exactly reliable. His impact when playing may not be big enough for the amount of time he misses. The Bears are over four million dollars in cap space, leaving them to have to cut multiple players or renegotiate contracts. The 26-year-old would be one of the most logical options to move on from, freeing up the Bears to look for a safety in the NFL Draft. Chicago and Brisker struggled this season with yardage allowed, sitting in 29th overall with an average of 363 yards per game. If the Bears weren’t getting a takeaway, each drive was more than likely ending with the other team getting points. The entire defensive back room may be at risk for getting released or traded, but Brisker will be one of the biggest ones to keep an eye on.
