Contract: Three years, $40 million, $25.75 million guaranteed.
Grade: A-
On the first day of free agency, the Bears addressed their glaring need at safety by signing Coby Bryant away from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks.
Drafted in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Bryant struggled to find his niche over the first two seasons of his pro career. While he played corner in college, Bryant didn't come into his own until he made the switch to safety heading into his third season. Over the last two seasons, Bryant was a consistent presence on a Seahawks defense that quickly emerged as one of the best in the NFL. In back-to-back seasons, Bryant posted PFF grades above 7o with seven interceptions and seven pass break-ups combined over the past two years.
On the Bears, Bryant is a great fit for what defensive coordinator Dennis Allen wants out of his safety. With his background as a cornerback, Bryant is a versatile piece in coverage with his ability to execute multiple coverage schemes. Bryant can play over the top as a centerfielder, buzz down from a two-high alignment to make plays over the middle and can man-up from the slot to take away certain matchups. To go along with his quality coverage chops, Bryant is also solid as a run defender, although he has been inconsistent as a tackler throughout his career.
All-in-all, Bryant is a high-floor player on a reasonable contract that should be a good value for the Bears moving forward. Compared to what the Bears had at safety last year, Bryant presents the team with a younger alternative to Kevin Byard and a better coverage fit compared to Jaquan Brisker. While it's likely that the Bears aren't done addressing safety this offseason, the Bryant addition is a good first step in overhauling the position group.