The Chicago Bears pulled some surprises on the third day of the 2025 draft. Rather than opt for targeting big names as had been the case for most of the first two days, they opted to go in different directions. It became clear they were targeting excellent athletes with each pick, whether they were familiar names or not. Perhaps the most fascinating of the group was Zah Frazier, a cornerback out of UTSA. He exploded onto the draft scene thanks to his six interceptions last season, followed by running a blistering 4.36 in the 40-yard dash at 6’3, 190 lbs.
Cornerbacks with that kind of size and speed are rare. Throw in the ball skills, and you have the makings of a potential high-level contributor in the NFL. It turns out that Bears scouts weren’t the ones who tipped off GM Ryan Poles about Frazier. That credit goes to new defensive backs coach Al Harris. It seems he signaled all the way back in February that Frazier was not only somebody the Bears needed to target, but that they could probably land him somewhere on Day 3.
Harris nailed it.
Zah Frazier is exactly the type of player who has thrived under Harris.
Since becoming a defensive backs coach in the NFL, he has a knack for maximizing cornerbacks with size, speed, and a nose for the ball. Marcus Peters made two of his three Pro Bowls in Kansas City and won Defensive Rookie of the Year when Harris was there. Then in Dallas, it was Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland, both of whom became All-Pros. The new Bears assistant has a nose for these guys. Poles deserves credit for listening to Harris when he insisted Zah Frazier was worth the investment. The only knock on the kid is that he’ll turn 25 this year, so the team must work quickly. If Harris is right, that secondary became even more lethal than before.
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If Frazier has anything to offer at the pro level, this coach will get it out of him.