March 3, 2026, 6:30 a.m. CT
The Chicago Bears will have plenty of decisions to make this offseason and will undoubtedly use the 2026 NFL Draft as a way to fill voids they may lose in free agency. Following last week’s NFL Scouting Combine, there are many names moving across mock drafts after several position groups had breakthrough and record-breaking performances.
With both of their starting safeties from 2025, Jaquan Brisker and All-Pro Kevin Byard, facing free agency, the Bears may have no choice but to look at adding to their secondary in the first round. It may be hard to imagine that both Byard and Brisker will depart in free agency, but either way, the safety position is more likely than not going to be addressed sooner rather than later for Chicago.
In a post-combine mock draft, USA Today’s Nate Davis has Chicago getting a popular name in the first round for safeties, seeing them select Dillon Thieneman out of Oregon with the 25th overall pick.
“A rangy, playmaking safety could be just what Chicago’s D needs,” Davis wrote. “Given rangy, playmaking All-Pro Kevin Byard seems headed for the open market.”
General manager Ryan Poles has indicated that the Bears want to re-sign Byard, but he hasn’t said the same about Brisker, an indication that Byard could be back and paired with either a rookie or veteran newcomer through free agency.
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There was also plenty of conversation at the NFL combine about upgrading the trenches. Poles and head coach Ben Johnson both spoke on the need for a left tackle going into the draft, as well as upgrading the defensive line, but depending on what happens in the early stages of free agency, the safety position might become an urgent position of need.
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