Bears safety Jaquan Brisker played a key role on defense as a rookie, where he helped shore up the defensive backfield alongside veteran Eddie Jackson.
Brisker moved all around on defense, whether that was in the box, battling slot receivers or blitzing. He led the team with 4.0 sacks and had the second-most tackles (104). Brisker was solid against the run and in coverage, although there’s plenty of improvement needed as a tackler.
NFL.com’s Nick Shook dubbed Brisker as the Bears’ unsung hero for the 2022 season, citing his production and potential as part of Chicago’s back end on defense.
I love what the Bears have in their secondary. Brisker and nickelback Kyler Gordon (Gordon was selected 39th overall and Brisker was drafted 48th, both in the second round) are talented defensive backs who beefed up Chicago’s back end and are primed to make plays for years to come. Brisker only finished with one interception to Gordon’s three, but anyone who watched the Bears on a weekly basis is well aware of the safety’s exciting potential. The team’s own site even named him Chicago’s Rookie of the Year. I agree with that designation, and I can’t wait to see how he develops.
Brisker served as the perfect complement to Jackson, who was able to go back to his natural free safety position and have a Pro Bowl-caliber season (before suffering a season-ending injury).
There’s no doubt that Brisker was general manager Ryan Poles’ best draft pick. The second-rounder out of Penn State established himself as a physical safety with all of the tools to be a defensive cornerstone for years to come.
2022 review
- 15 Most Impactful Bears of 2022: Cole Kmet (9), Jack Sanborn (8), Jaquan Brisker (7), Teven Jenkins (6), Ryan Poles (5), Luke Getsy (4), Matt Eberflus (3)
- 2022 position reviews: Offensive line, interior defensive line, edge rusher, linebacker, cornerback, safety, special teams
- Bears 2022 End of Year Awards: Picking MVP, Breakout Player of the Year and more
- 7 Bears players who stepped up in 2022
- Revisiting our bold predictions from the 2022 season
Draft coverage
- 2023 NFL mock draft roundup: Bears have multiple suitors looking to trade for No. 1 pick
- Where would Bears’ Justin Fields rank among 2023 quarterback class?
- NFL insider believes Bears will most likely trade down from No. 1 with these teams
- Albert Breer believes Bears have their eyes set on this defender in 2023 NFL draft
- Todd McShay: Texans will ‘do everything they can’ to trade up with Bears
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