Bengals linked to free agent All-Pro Bears safety who led NFL in interceptions in 2025

The Cincinnati Bengals have some major work to do on the defensive side of the ball. And the safety room might need the most help this offseason.

With Geno Stone hitting free agency, the Bengals likely need to add multiple safeties to the roster this offseason. While the draft class is a good opportunity to land an impact player, free agency has some solid options as well.

PFF.com's Mason Cameron is linking the Bengals to a free-agent safety from the Chicago Bears who led the NFL with 7 interceptions this past season. The Bengals were called the best landing spot for three-time All-Pro safety Kevin Byard III.

Bengals linked to Kevin Byard as best landing spot for All-Pro safety

With Al Golden's defense with Notre Dame in 2024 being great in Cover-1 usage, there's one thing the Bengals need to do. As Cameron writes, "If the Bengals hope to resemble that, it starts with the safety position."

Byard is the clear best option, as he's a center-fielder type of safety, and one who's shown he's capable of leading a defense from the secondary as a playmaking safety.

This past season for the Bears, Byard had an NFL-best seven interceptions. He was named to his third Pro Bowl roster and also earned his third first-team All-Pro.

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In his NFL career, Byard has recorded 36 interceptions in his 10 years in the league, eight coming with the Tennessee Titans, two with the Bears, and 10 games with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.

The Bengals need safety help this offseason, and the best scheme fit is Byard, who would slot in perfectly at the back of Golden's defense.

While he's 33 years old and not a long-term solution to the position, with the Bengals trying to win a Super Bowl in Joe Burrow's time with the team, adding Byard would give the young Bengals defense a veteran leader who's more than capable of leading a unit.

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