(Photo: © Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images, 247Sports)
Training camp is just weeks away and for the Chicago Bears, there will be a handful of younger players on the depth chart who will be worth watching throughout the 2025 season. Cornerback is one position that general manager Ryan Poles has invested in over the last three draft classes, selecting Tyrique Stevenson, Terell Smith, and in 2025, Zah Frazier.
Prior to drafting Frazier, the Bears had some talent at the position; however, the addition of a player such as Frazier continues to reinforce a philosophy that Poles has aimed to establish over the last few years: Continuing to add talent to a position, even if the Bears have quality starters and good depth.
While he won't be pushing for a starting role in 2025, Frazier's athleticism and ball skills make him an intriguing addition to the secondary. While his production didn't improve until his final season at UTSA, Frazier still developed a reputation for being a long cornerback who could press the line of scrimmage while also, being comfortable enough to play inside and outside.
As he heads into his rookie season, Frazier will compete with players like Stevenson, Smith, veterans Josh Blackwell, and Ameer Speed for a chance at playing time.
Frazier's fit in the Bears defense:
The Bears defense covets cornerbacks who provide versatility and the ability to switch between playing inside and outside seamlessly. Frazier's college tape proved that he could play where needed. Being 6-foot-3, Frazier is much taller compared to many of the other cornerbacks on the Bears roster so his best trait is his length that he uses to disrupt wide receivers' ability to catch the ball.
Frazier's ability to read and react to what opposing quarterbacks are doing is extremely valuable, despite being just a one-year starter in college. His eyes are consistently on the quarterback and he's proven he can mirror the routes that skill players are running to keep up with them.
What people inside Halas Hall are saying:
"Here's another guy that's a young developmental corner, he's got a lot of things that he's got to learn," said Dennis Allen. "But he's got the tools for us to work with. Probably the biggest thing is you got a big, long press corner that can run."
What Allen and defensive backs coach Al Harris see in Frazier is untapped potential and a player who, despite being a 25-year old rookie, is a player who can still get better. He may not be a player who ends up being an immediate impact player but the potential for him to develop into a starter at some point down the road is a real possibility.
Expectations for the 2025 season:
As mentioned above, Frazier is in a crowded cornerback room that includes experienced veterans and younger players who are just beginning to hit their stride. During his rookie season, he'll see some snaps in the Bears sub-packages on defense while also being a valuable contributor on special teams.
Barring a significant injury to players in front of him, he likely won't be starting when the season opens in week 1 but he definitely is the type of player that this coaching staff hopes to keep in Chicago for a very long time.
Conclusion:
Of all the Bears day three picks from the 2025 NFL Draft, Frazier is the one whose traits make him a very intriguing option to earn a second contract in Chicago and potentially, become a starter down the road if he can start to put everything together sooner rather than later.
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