Rams Safety Kam Curl
Getty
Rams Safety Kam Curl
The memory still stings… In overtime of the NFC Divisional Round, quarterbackCaleb Williams launched a ball downfield toDJ Moore andRams safetyKam Curl made the game winning interception that slammed the door on theChicago Bears legendary season.
Now, just weeks into the offseason, that same defender is being projected as one of the most logical additions the Chicago Bears could make.
According toESPN’s Matt Bowen, Curl is the No. 41 free agent in the 2026 class, and Chicago is his best fit.
A secondary on the brink of change
Rams Safety Kam Curl
GettyRams Safety Kam Curl
The Chicago Bears are heading toward one of the most dramatic defensive backfield transitions in the league.
All four safeties from last season’s roster are scheduled to hit free agency, including startersJaquan Brisker and All-ProKevin Byard III. That leaves coordinator Dennis Allen potentially entering the offseason without a single proven starter at the position.
At that point, safety stops being a depth issue and becomes a structural one. Chicago can’t rely on a single draft pick to fix it, they need at least one immediate starter and multiple playable bodies.
That’s where Matt Bowen’s projection matters. He connected Kam Curl to the Bears specifically because Allen’s defense demands interchangeable roles. Curl can align deep pre-snap, rotate into the box after the snap, or match tight ends without forcing the coverage shell to change, a core requirement for disguise-heavy systems. Pretty much anything Allen could want him to do.
His 2025 production reflects that usage:
122 tackles
2 interceptions
2 sacks
5 passes defended
1 forced fumble
Curl shows up in run fits, pressure packages, underneath zones and rotational coverages. He’s not a single purpose player, which is exactly why he fits.
The Kevin Byard possibility
Rams Safety Kam Curl
GettyRams Safety Kam Curl
Bowen also floated a fascinating wrinkle, saying “Don’t be surprised if the team brings back Byard to join him, too.”
That pairing would create a clear structure -> Byard: veteran range and ball skills (led the league in interceptions in 2025). Curl: physical presence and run support.
Instead of replacing leadership, the Bears would be redistributing responsibilities. It’s a subtle difference, but an important one for a defense trying to evolve rather than restart.
Chicago isn’t entering this offseason with unlimited cap flexibility. After major deals across the roster in recent years, general manager Ryan Poles must find value signings rather than headline splashes.
That matters because the Bears cannot afford to ignore safety and hope the draft fixes everything. Signing a reliable starter would allow them to avoid forcing a pick at No. 25 and keep roster building flexible.
The irony is unavoidable: the player who helped end Chicago’s playoff run could help start its next one. But this isn’t about revenge narratives or familiarity. It’s about roster math.
The Chicago Bears are facing a potential total reset at safety. Whether they re-sign veterans or look outside the building, they must add someone capable of starting immediately in a complex defensive system. Kam Curl checks every box.
Chicago’s offseason won’t be defined by one signing. But if this projection proves accurate, it may be defined by what that signing allows them to avoid.