This will be a big year for the third-year safety to prove he needs to remain a part of the Chicago Bears’ long-term plans.
With just four names remaining on our list of the top ten Chicago Bears with the most to prove in 2024, it’s starting to heat up.
If you’ve missed the countdown so far, here’s who has made the list so far, just click on their name to be taken to the accompanying article as to why it’s a critical year for that particular player.
10. Zacch Pickens
9. Braxton Jones
8. Gervon Dexter
7. Velus Jones
6. Tremaine Edmunds
5. Nate Davis
The name that comes in at number four may surprise some fans of the Bears. Many may disagree with his placement here, but this is a critical year for him in a very crowded secondary. Number four is safety Jaquan Brisker.
Jaquan Brisker has quickly become a fan favorite among Chicago Bears fans. The Penn State product has turned in two solid seasons in his first two years in the league.
In two years, Brisker has been over 100 tackles each season, he’s recorded 8 TFLs, 7 QB hits, 5 sacks, and forced three fumbles. In terms of stops (tackles that result in a non-successful play for the opponent, Brisker ranked fourth in the NFL among safeties with 34. Brisker has proven to be a force in the running game and rushing the passer.
His pass coverage hasn’t been nearly as strong as his run defense. Over his first two seasons, Brisker only has 2 interceptions, has allowed 10 total passing touchdowns, and has a passer rating against of over 100. If you like PFF grades, Brisker finished 53rd among safeties (and just safeties) with 250 or more snaps. In short, of the starting safeties in this league, Brisker is one of the worst coverage safeties in the league. If the Bears are going to invest in Brisker moving forward, he must improve his pass coverage.
This is not a call to replace Brisker in 2025 if he doesn’t improve his pass coverage in 2024, this is more a question of long-term investment. With two years remaining on his contract, Brisker is available for a contract extension after this season. Ryan Poles has added a lot of talent to this roster, and after this season, he is going to have to start getting rather particular as to who he wants to extend and keep on this roster. He won’t be able to keep everyone.
When the Bears’ defense was elite under Vic Fangio, they weren’t able to keep everyone. Players like Adrian Amos, Bryce Callahan, and Leonard Floyd all played at a level worthy of a contract extension, but the Bears had to be careful how they allocated their resources and those players were forced to seek contracts elsewhere.
Brisker may be entering a similar situation. The Bears have already committed dollars to Jaylon Johnson. I would expect that Kyler Gordon would be a higher priority for an extension over Brisker. What Tyrique Stevenson showed in year one, I would also expect that he projects as a more likely extension candidate than Brisker.
Now in theory, Stevenson’s contract extension wouldn’t hit the books until Jaylon Johnson’s contract is largely done with guaranteed money, but it does open up the question, just how many members of the secondary will Ryan Poles be willing to pay?
Antoine Winfield’s extension reset the safety market. Winfield will make $21 million per season over the next four years. While it seems highly unlikely that Brisker could push for Winfield money, there is always a trickle-down effect from the top. A Brisker extension could push in the range of $14 to $17 million per season.
There are regularly veteran safeties available in free agency that can step in and perform well and they can be paid well under $10 million per year (see Kevin Byard’s two-year, $15 million contract with Chicago).
Brisker needs to set out this season and prove to Ryan Poles and the Bears that he’s indispensable. He needs to prove that not only does he continue to become a stronger and stronger asset against the run and rushing the passer, but that his coverage skills significantly improve and Brisker becomes a well-rounded player.
If he does that, he will make it impossible for Poles to consider letting him walk. But if he continues to struggle in pass coverage, Poles may just want Brisker to play out the next two years of his contract and replace him in 2026 with either a day-two draft pick or another affordable veteran.
This is a huge season for Jaquan Brisker to prove to the Bears he needs to be a part of their long-term plan, if he continues to look like the fourth or fifth-best player in a loaded secondary, there just may not be room for Brisker to stay in Chicago.
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