Top 10 Greater Expectations - #4

In this series, we will look at which Chicago Bears players need to step up their play to match their pay in 2025.

Expectations are a tricky thing. One of the safest ways to fan over the years is to set the bar low and not expect much from your team. We Chicago Bears fans know this well. I couldn’t help but think of one of the all-time great MADtv skits as I began this series. Let’s be honest, these actually were mostly terrible, but the point remains. Expectations are key!

However, with Ben Johnson now calling the shots in Chi-town and Caleb Williams under center, times are looking up for The Beloved. With over $64 million in cap space and 4 picks in the top 75 of this upcoming NFL Draft, Chicago Bears GM Ryan Poles has plenty of resources at his disposal to improve the team moving forward. But what about the players currently under contract? In this series, we will highlight ten players who need to step up their play to justify their contract while simultaneously helping the team win more games.

Whose play needs to match their pay?

Next up at #4, we have S, Jaquan Brisker.

Coming out of Penn State by way JUCO Lackawanna College, Bears’ Safety Jaquan Brisker was one of my favorite players. More of a Tony Parrish than Mike Brown, he was known for his physical play but also had a knack for getting his hands on the ball in clutch moments. However, similar to Brown, Brisker has struggled to stay healthy in his first 3 years in the league having missed two games apiece in his first two seasons until missing 12 last season. Entering his contract year, it is safe to say the former 2nd rounder must prove he can stay healthy if he would like a multi-year extension with the Bears.

Brisker’s 2025 cap hit is currently 15th most on the team at $3,325,000, which is just behind fellow 2022 draft pick Kyler Gordon, who is more than likely going to get extended this off-season. If Brisker can stay healthy and continue improving each season as he has thus far, I expect him to remain a Bear for a long time. If he continues to struggle with concussions due to his physical style of play, expect the Bears to move in another direction at Safety in 2026.