Bears linked to a free agent that ended Chicago’s postseason run, but here’s why other options make more sense as a potential fit
The Chicago Bears will be exploring the market and the draft to restock the safety position this offseason.
The Chicago Bears have an obvious need at the safety position, with literally zero players under contract at the position going into the 2026 season. The front office needs to restock that room and likely will bring in at least three players to do so between free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft.
The team’s potential departures include Chicago’s two starters in All-Pro veteran Kevin Byard III and a rising impact player in Jaquan Brisker. It’s looking unlikely that the Bears can manage to-resign both players, so the team will be hunting for one starting-caliber option along with some depth pieces.
Byard is the easy decision to re-sign. Given his age, he’s not expected to have a strong market and there’s mutual interest in running things back in Chicago, not to mention the fact that Byard continues turning back the clock after leading the league in interceptions. The conversation is different for Brisker, who’s earned a solid market for himself that he should plan to cash in on.
If that’s the case, the Bears should look to replace Brisker’s role with a cheaper free agent option, and the Bears were already linked to one potential free agent earlier this week.
ESPN’s lists the Bears as the best free agent fit for S Kam Curl
ESPN’s Matt Bowen ranked his Top-50 free agents on Tuesday and included the best fit for each player set to hit the market. Only one player was linked directly to the Bears and that player was former Los Angeles Rams safety Kam Curl. Fittingly, Curl is the same player who ended the Bears’ postseason run with his overtime interception.
Bowen noted Curl has the ability to play either safety position, despite playing over 750 snaps as the free safety in the Rams secondary. Back in 2023, Curl played 400+ snaps in the box and at free safety and has pass rush potential after totaling seven pressures in each of the last three seasons.
After drafting Kamren Kinchens in 2024, Curl’s role changed into being more of a roaming ball hawk in the deep-thirds. In that role, Curl had two interceptions and 14 pass deflections. Playing in Chicago under Dennis Allen and Al Harris, Curl’s ball production would see a lot more results.
The only issue I have with Curl is the price. Spotrac projects Curl to earn over $10 million per year on his next contract, and it could be more than that if the Rams, or another team, make a strong push to sign him. If you’re paying that price, you might as well just re-sign Brisker, who already has familiarity with the team and in the scheme. It’s simply not a price the Bears are looking to pay.
Other free agent options that actually make sense as a fit for what the Bears are looking for
It’s clear the Bears are going to be digging in the bucket for a starting-caliber player that won’t cost the Bears over $10 million per year to potentially replace Brisker. Ideally, the team would like to add a player who’s strong against the run and offers some value as a pass rusher.
Two players I’ve been looking at as options are Jaylinn Hawkins ($8.3 million per year projected) and Kyle Dugger ($5.9 million per year projected). Hawkins finished the season with 11 total pressures and two sacks while having a 79.7 run defense grade, per PFF. Dugger finish his season with seven total pressures and one sack but had a 58.9 run defense grade.
Curl, to his credit, was solid in both of those departments as well and really the only thing that concerns me is the price. If the Bears can address that position at a discount, it’s always the best move and Curl frankly isn’t a player that can accomplish that for Chicago.
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