The Chicago Bears' 2025 Draft class was filled with a lot of high-upside developmental players who can help round out an already strong roster.
None of the eight rookie selections are expected to have major roles in their position groups this coming season, which is a great spot for the team to be in when it comes to roster development and creating sustained success.
One of the newcomers the coaching staff is especially excited to start working with is fifth-round rookie Zah Frazier, a relatively inexperienced cornerback despite his age who is filled with untapped potential.
Following the second day of rookie minicamp on Saturday, Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen took some time to explain what trait-wise excites him the most in Frazier's game.
"I think the biggest thing is you got a big, long, press corner that can run," Allen explained. "He made a play out there today over on the left sideline and that's kind of what we saw with him."
Allen even took it a step further and compared Frazier's freakish length at the position to Al Harris, a former sixth-round pick that became a two-time Pro Bowl cornerback throughout his 14 year career.
"Here's another guy that's a young, developmental corner. He's got a lot of things that he's gotta learn but again he's got the tools for us to work with," Allen added. "Who better to work with him than Al Harris. A guy that's got a similar frame and played a long time in this league and had a lot of success. We're excited about getting the opportunity to work with him and helping him grow."
Funny enough, Harris is on the staff and working directly with Frazier. When the coaching staff was developed under Ben Johnson, Harris joined the Bears as the defensive pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach after previously working with the Dallas Cowboys.
"[He's] been helping me for sure," Frazier said about Harris. "Getting my stance higher, not being too low when I'm in press man and stuff like that. Being coached by him is really a blessing."
That level of detail in the coaching is already starting to pay off for Frazier. As Allen noted earlier, Frazier made a heck of a play on Saturday matched up against second-year wide receiver John Jackson in press coverage. While speaking with reporters, Frazier went into more depth on the play.
"I was press man, he gave me a good release. I stabbed him and just played to my technique. I didn't panic," Frazier explained. "Once you don't panic, good things happen. That was a good thing having a little PBU, I want the ball though."
Not panicking in coverage and then attacking the football were some of Frazier's specialties at UTSA. In his final season, Frazier recorded six interceptions and nine pass deflections in coverage.
.@ZFrazier19's an INT machine pic.twitter.com/tfqbHQHQTq
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) April 26, 2025
If he can continue honing his craft throughout the summer and turning heads with the plays he's making, he can have a real shot to earn a position as an outside corner for this defense in 2025.
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