Jaquan Brisker could very likely be wearing a different uniform when the 2026 season rolls around.
Currently starting at safety for the Chicago Bears opposite veteran Kevin Byard, both will be hitting free agency when this season is over. Byard is on an All-Pro trajectory this year, and is currently leading the NFL with six interceptions. Despite his age (he’s 32), the Bears will likely try to bring Byard back, as he’s been a definite asset on defense over his two seasons in Chicago.
Brisker is a different story. He’s still just 26, but the former 2022 second-round pick has an injury history that’ll be concerning to every team evaluating him.
He’s had three concussions over his first three NFL seasons, the most serious of which happened in 2024. Brisker suffered a concussion Week 5 that kept him out for the final 12 games and required extensive neurological recovery. Beyond his head injuries, he has also battled groin, hamstring, back and shoulder issues, though those have been shorter-term.
He has remained healthy in 2025, and if he stays that way, Cowboys Wire’s K.D. Drummond thinks the Dallas Cowboys could sign him.
Dallas Cowboys Predicted to Sign Bears Safety Jaquan Brisker in 2026 Free Agency
GettyOne analyst thinks Bears safety Jaquan Brisker will sign with the Dallas Cowboys when free agency rolls around in 2026.
Through four seasons, Brisker has started every game he’s played (48) and he has over 300 total tackles, 7.0 sacks, four interceptions, 18 passes defensed and four forced fumbles.
He’s in the final year of his four-year rookie deal worth about $7.36 million total, with a 2025 cap hit just over $4 million. After that, he’s scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency in 2026.
If a team like Dallas dangles a contract that tempts him, he’s very likely a goner.
Drummond predicts Brisker will sign a three-year deal worth $33 million with the Cowboys when free agency hits. Drummond’s projection also includes a $13 million signing bonus, two void years and $1 million base salary. The Matt Eberflus connection isn’t a factor, either, as Drummond also thinks the Cowboys are going to fire Eberflus, who worked with Brisker for three years in Chicago previously.
Bears Have 4 Different Safeties Heading to FA Next Offseason
Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens are currently behind Brisker and Byard on the Bears depth chart, and all four of them are headed to free agency.
If you’re general manager Ryan Poles, you’re very likely trying your best to get Byard back, as he’s been the star of the group, but Owens and Hicks are likely goners.
Letting Brisker walk would mean that the Bears would have to address the safety position either in free agency, or in the draft. The latter option feels like the most probable right now. Adding a rookie would allow the Bears to pay Byard more while nabbing a young player on a cheaper deal than Brisker will be signing.
The reality is that Brisker’s concussion history has been and will continue to be a central concern regarding his long-term durability and availability. If he wants to stay in Chicago and is willing to play on a more team-friendly deal, he could stick around. But if teams like Dallas offer more, he’s going to go where the money is.
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