As we move deeper into February, the Chicago Bears find themselves staring down one of the most pivotal decisions of their offseason - and it doesn’t revolve around Caleb Williams.
Yes, the rookie quarterback’s development will dominate headlines, but the real chess match is playing out on the other side of the ball. Specifically, in the secondary, where safety Jaquan Brisker’s future is suddenly front and center.
Brisker’s Rise - and the Dilemma It Creates
Since being drafted in the second round back in 2022, Brisker has been everything the Bears hoped for - and then some. Outside of a few injury hiccups, he’s emerged as a tone-setter for Chicago’s defense. He finished the 2025 season with 93 tackles, an interception, and a growing reputation as the emotional heartbeat of a unit that took a major leap under head coach Ben Johnson.
He’s not just a box-score guy. Brisker’s versatility as a hybrid safety - able to cover, hit, and quarterback the secondary - makes him one of the most valuable young defenders in the league. And now, with his rookie deal up, he’s due for a payday that reflects that.
Here’s the catch: the safety market is booming, and the 2026 NFL Draft is loaded with defensive back talent. That puts Bears GM Ryan Poles in a tight spot.
Brisker wants to be paid like a premier player. The Bears want to maintain flexibility.
Something’s got to give.
The Franchise Tag Option
The most immediate lever the Bears can pull? The franchise tag.
Projected to cost around $20.7 million for safeties in 2026, tagging Brisker would keep him in Chicago for another year while buying time to negotiate a long-term deal. It’s a hefty one-year price tag, especially for a team doing financial gymnastics to stay under the salary cap, but it also provides continuity - something the Bears’ defense desperately needs.
Several depth pieces in the secondary are heading to free agency, and losing Brisker on top of that could unravel the cohesion the defense built last season. He knows the scheme, he’s trusted by his teammates, and he’s a culture guy - the type of player you don’t replace easily, even in a deep draft.
Tagging him also opens the door to a July extension, which would allow the Bears to lower his 2026 cap hit via a signing bonus and spread the cost over future seasons. In other words, it’s a short-term hit that could lead to long-term stability.
The Trade Card
But there’s another scenario that can’t be ignored: the tag-and-trade.
If contract talks have truly hit a wall, Brisker becomes one of the most attractive trade chips on the market. He’s 26, proven, and fits the modern mold of a do-it-all safety. Teams like the Jaguars or Bengals - both contenders with needs in the secondary - would likely be lining up with offers.
A trade could net Chicago a Day 2 draft pick - think second or third round - and clear nearly $19 million in cap space. That’s money the Bears could redirect toward a veteran pass-rusher or interior defensive lineman, two areas that still need reinforcement.
Poles has shown he’s willing to make tough calls. He’s let talented players walk when the price didn’t match the plan.
But Brisker is different. He’s not just a good player - he’s a foundational piece.
The kind of guy who sets the tone in the locker room and on the field.
The Bottom Line
Right now, the most likely path is the franchise tag - a bridge to something longer-term. It gives the Bears control, buys time, and keeps a rising defense intact. But if a team comes calling with a strong offer, Poles will have to weigh culture versus capital.
Brisker’s future is about more than just dollars and cents. It’s about identity. And how the Bears handle this situation will say a lot about how they plan to build around their young quarterback - not just on offense, but across the entire roster.