Heading into the offseason, the Chicago Bears are going to need to address their defensive secondary in free agency.
Both starting safeties – Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III – are in line to hit free agency as well this summer. This will result in Chicago having to make multiple financial decisions addressing the issue.
ESPN’s Aaron Schatz projected one free agency signing from every team this offseason, and he said that the Bears will pursue former Commanders and Rams safety Kamren Curl.
Would Kamren Curl fit in the Bears’ defense?
Curl, 26, will be entering his seventh NFL season in 2026, which is impressive as he was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft at just 21 years old.
“Both Jaquan Brisker and Kevin Byard III are free agents, so even if one of them returns, the Bears will need help at the safety position,” Schatz mentioned in his article.
The former Rams safety is a free agent after completing his two-year, $9 million contract with the team. Through his career, Curl has played at least 16 games in five of six seasons, logging 585 total tackles, eight sacks, four forced fumbles, and five interceptions.
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety is known for being one of the best safeties in the run game. In 2025, Curl was second for the Rams in total tackles (122) and was fifth in the NFL in solo tackles (79).
If the Bears retain Kevin Byard III, who led the NFL in interceptions last season, and sign Kamren Curl, they could form one of the league’s top ball-hawking, tackling safety duos.
