The Chicago Bears built their defensive identity in 2025 around one key principle: take the ball away. And no one embodied that better than Kevin Byard III. The veteran safety didn’t just lead the Bears in interceptions - he led the entire NFL with seven picks, returning them for 91 yards and anchoring a secondary that gave quarterbacks fits all year long.
Now, with free agency looming in March, the Bears face a tough reality: keeping Byard in Chicago won’t be easy. His projected market value sits at a manageable $7.5 million annually, but the Bears are currently staring down a $10 million salary cap deficit heading into 2026. That means general manager Ryan Poles will need to get creative - and fast - if he wants to keep one of the league’s premier ball-hawks in navy and orange.
Enter D.J. Moore.
Moore’s future with the Bears is uncertain after a 2025 season that saw him post 50 catches for 682 yards and six touchdowns across 17 games. On paper, that’s solid production, but not quite matching the expectations that came with his arrival.
As a result, he’s a potential trade candidate this offseason. But if the Bears want to keep both Moore and Byard, the solution may lie in reworking Moore’s contract.
According to Spotrac, restructuring Moore’s deal could free up $17.4 million in cap space - and adding a void year could push that number to $18.5 million. That would go a long way toward bringing Byard back without gutting other parts of the roster.
And make no mistake: Byard is worth the effort. He’s not just a one-season wonder.
His seven interceptions in 2025 weren’t even a career high - he had eight back in 2017 - and that kind of consistency is rare in the secondary. At 32, he may not command top-tier money on the open market, but his instincts, ball skills, and leadership remain elite.
That’s a massive plus for a Bears defense that thrived on takeaways but still needs to grow in other areas.
Byard’s impact went beyond just the turnovers. He racked up 93 tackles (61 solo), four tackles for loss, and eight passes defensed.
He was a first-team All-Pro for a reason, and even in the Bears’ playoff loss to the Rams, he managed to make his presence felt with a couple of tackles for loss. He’s the kind of veteran presence that defensive coordinator Dennis Allen - and returning defensive backs coach Al Harris - can continue to build around.
Allen’s unit showed flashes last season, but it’s clear the front seven needs reinforcements. That makes it all the more important to keep the secondary intact. Losing a player like Byard would be a step backward for a defense that’s just starting to find its identity.
So now, it comes down to the front office - and maybe a little sacrifice from Moore. If Moore is willing to restructure, the Bears can keep their secondary intact and give themselves a real shot at building something special on defense. If not, they risk losing one of the most impactful defenders in the league.
The Bears have some big decisions ahead. But one thing’s clear: letting Kevin Byard III walk out the door shouldn’t be one of them.