The Bears have roughly five weeks to negotiate new contracts before the official start of the new league year at 4 p.m. ET on March 11, preceded by a 48-hour legal tampering period that marks the true kickoff of free-agent negotiations.
At this stage, Chicago is expected to attempt to re-sign at least one starter—Pro Bowl veteran Kevin Byard or Jaquan Brisker—but cap space remains a major hurdle. After the latest projections, the Bears could still be about $5.3 million over the cap, limiting their ability to pay top-of-market rates to either safety while addressing other roster needs.
If neither re-sign option works out, Ballentine suggests the Bears could pursue a trade for Budda Baker. Baker has established himself as one of the NFL’s elite safeties, with eight Pro Bowls in nine seasons and a consistent run-stopping presence. A Baker addition would represent a clear upgrade over Brisker, though it would come with substantial financial commitments.
Trading for Baker would come with a significant cap hit. He has two years and roughly $34 million remaining on his contract, including about $7.7 million guaranteed for 2026. If sent to Chicago, Baker would count about $16.1 million against the cap in 2026 and $17.8 million in 2027, a cost higher than re-signing Brisker would likely be.
Even with the potential upside, a Day 2 trade would be a heavy lift given Arizona’s need to retool under a new coaching staff and Chicago’s cap constraints. The Bears may ultimately be more inclined to prioritize keeping at least one of their current starters rather than pursuing a blockbuster move that strains 2026 cap flexibility.
