Chicago Safety Jaquan Brisker Set to Land Massive Three-Year Contract
By 813 Staff
Matt Eberflus let Jaquan Brisker walk, and now everyone's wondering if the Bears just made their secondary problem even worse.
According to projections shared by MLFootball on social media, the Chicago safety is expected to land a three-year deal worth $28 million when he hits the open market. That's the going rate for a starting-caliber safety in today's NFL, but it's also a number that tells you everything about how another team values what the Bears are apparently willing to give up.
League sources confirm that Brisker's camp has been fielding interest from multiple contenders looking to shore up their defensive backfield. The former second-round pick out of Penn State has developed into exactly the kind of physical, versatile safety that defensive coordinators covet in an era where tight ends and slot receivers dictate so much of what happens in coverage.
Those close to the situation say the Bears never made a serious push to extend Brisker before he reached free agency, which raises questions about whether this front office truly understands what it takes to build a championship defense. Brisker started 14 games last season and showed the kind of consistency you need from your back end. He's not a Pro Bowler, but he's the type of player who keeps your defense from falling apart when things get messy.
The front office has been quietly reshuffling its defensive priorities, and there's been talk around Halas Hall that the coaching staff wants to get younger and faster in the secondary. Fair enough. But you still need players who know how to play football, and Brisker checks that box. The projected $28 million over three years comes out to a shade over $9 million per season, which is right in line with what mid-tier starting safeties command in this market.
What happens next depends largely on how aggressive other teams get when the negotiating window opens. Brisker's representation has leverage here, especially if multiple clubs get into a bidding situation. The Bears could still match or make a late push, but the smart money around the league says he's playing elsewhere in 2026.
For a franchise that's been promising to turn the corner defensively, watching a homegrown talent walk for a reasonable contract might be the kind of decision that comes back to haunt them when they're scrambling for safety help in November.
