Bears Extra Picks Are BACK ON THE TABLE + Cunningham’s Reported Replacement & Byard’s Contract News

Bears Extra Picks Are BACK ON THE TABLE + Cunningham’s Reported Replacement & Byard’s Contract News

The Chicago Bears offseason just took another major turn, and there is renewed optimism surrounding draft capital, front office continuity, and key defensive contracts as the organization continues building toward sustained contention.

The biggest development centers on Ian Cunningham’s departure to Atlanta and the Bears’ potential to still receive compensatory draft picks. Early reports suggested Chicago would not receive the picks typically awarded when a team loses a front-office executive to a general manager role. However, former Bears front office member Greg Gabriel has since provided a detailed breakdown explaining why there is still legitimate hope that the Bears could ultimately be awarded compensation. The situation hinges on league interpretation and timing, and while nothing is finalized, the door is not closed. For a franchise prioritizing long-term roster building, even mid-round compensatory picks would be extremely valuable as Ryan Poles continues stacking young, cost-controlled talent.

With Cunningham gone, attention quickly shifts to who could step in as the Bears’ next assistant general manager, and one name stands out: Jeff King. Around the league, King is widely viewed as a future GM, praised for his scouting background, organizational leadership, and ability to blend analytics with traditional evaluation. Promoting from within would preserve continuity at Halas Hall and keep the Bears’ front office philosophy intact as Chicago enters a critical stretch of roster decisions, contract extensions, and draft planning.

On the field, the Bears are in a strong position with their safety room, especially from a financial standpoint. Kevin Byard’s projected contract lines up extremely well for Chicago, with expectations pointing toward a two-year deal at roughly the same annual value as his current contract. Byard remains one of the league’s most reliable veteran safeties, bringing elite football IQ, leadership, and ball production. Over his career, he has consistently posted strong tackle numbers, pass breakups, and interceptions while serving as the organizer of the secondary — something that has shown up clearly in Chicago’s defensive communication.

Alongside him, Jaquan Brisker’s projected extension comes in at three years, $33 million, a deal that reflects both his impact and upside. Brisker has developed into a tone-setting defender with range, physicality, and playmaking ability. When healthy, he consistently ranks among the team leaders in tackles, adds impact plays around the line of scrimmage, and has shown improvement in coverage responsibilities. Locking in Brisker while keeping Byard on a team-friendly deal would give the Bears rare stability at safety — a cornerstone for any elite defense.

Between renewed hope for draft compensation, a strong internal GM candidate, and favorable contract projections for key defenders, the Bears continue to position themselves as one of the most structurally sound teams in the NFC heading into the next phase of their window.

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