Kevin Byard: Staying with Bears is '1st option,' but I'll do what's best for my family in free agency

After leading the NFL in interceptions, Bears safety Kevin Byard has a decision to make.

His contract expires in March. The 10-year veteran said there’s a “mutual interest” between him and the Bears’ decision-makers to return on a free-agent deal. Remaining a Bear, he said, is his “first option.”

Byard knows that things aren’t always that simple, though.

“With the success that we all had this season as a team, I think a lot of guys on this team are going to be coveted around this league, honestly,” he said. “And I think the same way the organization is always going to do what's best for the team, I think I owe that to my family as well.”

Byard has three children under age 6. They’ve spent the first half of the school year in Chicago and the second half back home in Nashville.

Byard, who turns 33 in August, said he wants to go to a winning team. For the first time in a long time, that list includes the Bears..

“I want to be able to play at a higher level and all that good stuff,” he said, “but what motivates me and what drives that is to want to win and try to be the best person, to be the best player, leader, teammate that I could possibly be for this organization — or any organization.”

Byard’s fellow safety, Jaquan Brisker, will become a free agent in March, too. Asked whether he expected to return, Brisker said simply that “I don’t have an answer for you.” Other prominent Bears who will become unrestricted free agents include cornerback Nahshon Wright, returner Devin Duvernay, receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, safety Jonathan Owens, defensive tackle Andrew Billings and tackle Braxton Jones.

Tight end Cole Kmet, running back D’Andre Swift and linebacker Tremaine Edmunds could be potential cap casualties, though the Bears could convert the salaries of DJ Moore, Joe Thuney and Grady Jarrett into bonuses to free up about $32 million in salary cap space.