Jaquan Brisker picked as Bears’ 2023 breakout candidate

The Chicago Bears have a lot of players who could break out in 2023. Quarterback Justin Fields is the first name that comes to mind. Running back Khalil Herbert has a chance to emerge as a quality RB1, and cornerback Kyler Gordon should improve on his rookie year to become one of the NFL’s exciting inside cover guys.

But none of them were chosen by The Athletic as the Bears’ 2023 breakout candidate. Instead, that distinction belongs to Jaquan Brisker.

“The flashes were there for last year’s second-round pick, like his one-handed interception on “Monday Night Football” and his team-high four sacks,” Kevin Fishbain wrote. “Brisker had typical rookie miscues. The size, athleticism and nose for the ball are all there, but sometimes he needed to be better in run defense. With Eddie Jackson alongside him and an improved pass rush — it can’t be worse than a safety leading the team in sacks, right? — in front of him, Brisker should take that second-year leap thanks to his physical traits and a better understanding of the scheme and NFL offenses.”

Brisker is a safe choice by Fishbain. He proved as a rookie that he’s already a quality NFL safety. There’s no reason to believe he won’t develop into one of the top players at his position very early in his career. Perhaps it will be as early as 2023.

For Brisker to take emerge as one of the league’s premier defenders, he’ll have to become better against the run — as Fishbain noted. More ball production will help his reputation across the NFL too.

Jaquan Brisker totaled 104 tackles, four sacks and one interception after joining the Bears as a second-round pick. General manager Ryan Poles selected cornerback Kyler Gordon in the same round during the 2022 NFL Draft and added another cornerback to the secondary — Tyrique Stevenson — in the second round this year.

The Bears can field one of the NFL’s best young secondaries if everything breaks their way in 2023. Much will depend on the pass rush, which is Chicago’s obvious weakness on defense right now. A lack of pressure will stress Jaquan Brisker and the rest of his defensive back teammates to be almost flawless, which is a hard ask for any unit, even one as talented as the Bears’.

Regardless, Brisker has the makings of a foundational player for the Chicago Bears.