Bears GM Ryan Poles comes out strongly in favor of re-signing Kevin Byard, but his price is rising

Bears general manager Ryan Poles was asked Wednesday about both starting safeties, Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker, being unrestricted free agents after both said they hoped to return, but commented specifically only on Byard.

 
"We’re going to take a step back and evaluate that and put that puzzle together," Poles said. "I have a lot of faith in our process that we’ll do that. Kevin’s a special player. I have no problem saying that’s a player that we would like to have back. But, again, when you add the other safeties into that mix and all the other decisions we have across the roster, with cap restraints and things like that, it’ll be a challenge. But that’s part of what we do."

Bears backup safeties Jonathan Owens and Jaylon Jones both are unrestricted free agents as well.

Byard, 32, had a two-year, $15 million contract with the Bears, and that price undoubtedly is going up after leading the NFL with seven interceptions and earning his third All-Pro selection.