The following is the eighth of nine position previews in advance of training camp.

The Bears secondary features a wealth of continuity and experience thanks to four returning starters — cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Tyrique Stevenson, nickel back Kyler Gordon and safety Jaquan Brisker — and a veteran free-agent addition in safety Kevin Byard III.

Johnson is the most experienced of the group. He entered the NFL in 2020 and has tallied 53 starts, 161 tackles, 41 passes defensed and five interceptions. After a career year in 2023 where he tied a team-high with four INTs and earned his first Pro Bowl nod, Johnson signed a four-year extension in March. As one of the defense's leaders, Johnson has a goal of "being the best corner in the league" in 2024.

"For me, being in my fifth year, I can open my lens and I can see things that I couldn't see before in my previous years." Johnson said June 5. "[I'm] pretty comfortable with route concepts and how offenses go about doing things ... I feel like I'm on a different level.

"And then I feel like the consistency part just comes in with honing in on my technique, and that's something that I take extreme pride in of course in the offseason, and then these next few weeks going and preparing for camp. I feel like I'm gonna come in better than I ever have just because of my preparation."

All four of the returnees, each of whom were selected by the Bears in the second round of their respective drafts, have been Day 1 starters on defense. The group also played a major role in the Bears tying for the NFL lead with 22 interceptions last season.

Gordon and Brisker represent Ryan Poles' first two selections as Bears general manager, as they were picked 39th and 48th overall, respectively, in 2022. Both players saw major growth between their rookie and sophomore seasons and will look to continue their ascents in Year 3.

Despite missing four games on injured reserve last season, Gordon totaled 61 tackles with six passes defensed, three tackles-for-loss, two interceptions and 1.0 sack.

Brisker missed two games in 2023 due to injury, but through 15 games he recorded 105 tackles, nine passes defensed, three quarterback hits, one interception and 1.0 sack. Since entering the league, the Penn State product ranks eighth in the NFL in total tackles among defensive backs.

As a rookie, Stevenson started all 16 games he played and tallied 84 tackles, 16 passes defensed and tied a team-high with four interceptions. The Miami product hit his stride at the end of the season, with all of his INTs coming after Week 14.

Stevenson was also named Week 17's NFC Defensive Player of the Week after registering two interceptions and four pass breakups in the Bears' Christmas Eve win over the Falcons, making him the first Bear to earn the honor since former safety Eddie Jackson in 2018.

Eberflus feels that the development of all four players has been aided by each of them quickly earning important playing time as rookies.

"That's really part of a function of us playing the young guys, rookies, fast," Eberflus said May 23. "Putting them in there and playing them right away, like Kyler, like Brisker. I think the addition of KB (Kevin Byard III) is really good. Great communicator, moves really well. Then you have two corners on the outside. You got Johnson, who has done an outstanding job last year, obviously, and then Tyrique. Really, my hats off to all the veterans for helping him out and bringing him along. He had a really good year last year and we expect more out of him this year."

The talented group of returnees is now accompanied by Byard — a two-time Pro Bowler with the Titans whose 28 career interceptions are tied for fifth most among active NFL players.

Byard played the majority of his career in Tennessee before being traded to Philadelphia last October. Appearing in 130 regular-season games with 121 starts, Byard has totaled 730 tackles, 28 picks, 66 passes defensed, 19 quarterback hits, 15 TFLs, 4.0 sacks, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.

Since entering the NFL in 2016, Byard ranks first in tackles and third in interceptions among all defensive backs.

"He's special, just in terms of a leader," Eberflus said June 6. "People respect him just because of the man he is and he's been a devoted guy to this game for a long time. You can really feel that. That's palpable. You can feel the love of the game that he has. He's very respectful. He's like a coach on the field. He's got really good ball-hawking ability. That's why I like him a lot."

The Bears added another veteran safety this offseason in six-year pro Jonathan Owens. The former undrafted free agent spent four seasons in Houston before joining Green Bay in 2023. Last year, he ranked fifth on the Packers in total tackles (74) and tied for third in solo tackles (51). Owens also played a key role on special teams, ranking second on the team with a career-high 10 special teams tackles.

Other returning depth pieces to the Bears secondary include young cornerbacks Terell Smith, Jaylon Jones and Josh Blackwell as well as safety Elijah Hicks.

Smith was selected in the fifth round of the 2023 draft and appeared in 12 games with four starts, tallying 45 tackles, three TFLs, five passes defensed, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.

"Smitty's done a good job of stepping in there when those guys have soft tissue [injuries] or are in a rotation," Eberflus said May 23. "He's going to be competing for [playing time] too."

Jones, Blackwell and Hicks are all entering their third NFL seasons and were major special teams contributors in 2023. Jones tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with seven (all solo), Hicks recorded five and Blackwell added four.

Also competing in the secondary during training camp will be cornerbacks Greg Stroman Jr., Leon Jones and Reddy Steward as well as safeties Adrian Colbert, Douglas Coleman III, Quindell Johnson and Tarvarius Moore.