Chicago Bears: Jaquan Brisker named top-10 NFL free agent still available

Chicago’s secondary makeover is on hold. Three days into the 2026 league year, the Bears have watched 2025 starting safety Kevin Byard walk to New England, where head coach Mike Vrable—his former Titans play-caller—helped seal the deal. The other half of last season’s starting tandem, Jaquan Brisker, remains unsigned, and the market is beginning to take notice.

CBS Sports now lists Brisker as the tenth-best free agent still available, highlighting the 26-year-old’s durability after a 2025 campaign in which he suited up for all 19 games, including the Bears’ postseason run. The second-round pick from the 2022 draft posted 92 regular-season tackles, one interception, and eight pass break-ups for the NFC North champions, the first time in his career he has played a full 17-game schedule.

While the production jump is encouraging, Brisker’s coverage metrics may be giving suitors pause: he surrendered a 75.0 percent completion rate and a 127.6 passer rating when targeted last season. Even so, evaluators believe his best football lies ahead, and a payday well above his rookie-scale earnings is expected once the market resets.

For Chicago, the wait continues. The organization entered free agency prioritizing stability at safety; with Byard gone and Brisker still fielding calls, the position remains unresolved as the second wave of signings begins.