With the No. 169 overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears selected cornerback Zah [pronounced “Zay”] Frazier. One of the top CBs at the JUCO level after stops at Coffeyville and Southern Illinois, Frazier arrived at UTSA in 2022 after decommitting from Kentucky.
Frazier spent three seasons in San Antonio. He broke out with a career-high and American Conference-leading 6 interceptions in 2024. Frazier also had 9 pass deflections and 1 forced fumble.
Asked what went into his breakout campaign, Frazier pointed to a coach’s advice.
Bears CB Zah Frazier Explains Breakout Season After Draft
‘Fearless’ Zah Frazier Joins Loaded Bears CB Room
“I would say my DB coach saying, ‘Be fearless,’ and I think that’s going to come with me everywhere I go. Just being fearless, don’t worry about the next play. Just always worry about the play that’s in front of you. Handle that first, and then focus on the next play when it come. But when that ball in the air, when you gotta tackle, just be fearless,” Frazier told Clocker Sports on Saturday.
“That’s just something that I done ingrained. So that’s all I think about, be fearless, and I just play to that. I would say that’s one of my things: ‘fearless.’”
Measuring in at 6-foot-3, he also ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL Combine.
Frazier joins a CB room led by All-Pro and Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson and the recently minted Kyler Gordon. Terell Smith and Tyrique Stevenson rotated opposite Johnson in 2024, with Gordon the team’s top nickelback.
However, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen has suggested Gordon could get more reps outside and even at safety this season.
Where Frazier fits into that remains to be seen.
What Draft Experts Say About Zah Frazier
ESPN’s Steve Muench pointed out Frazier has “small hands,” but he also noted that the traits Frazier possesses make him an attractive option.
“Frazier possesses a rare blend of length, speed, size and potential. He reroutes and widens receivers with his long arms when he gets his hands on them. He ran the fifth-fastest 40 for the corners at the combine (4.36) and stays stride for stride with receivers on tape. Frazier closes well and jumps routes while breaking on passes. His length, range and eyes make him effective in zone coverage too,” Muench wrote before the draft.
“Frazier does drop some catchable interceptions, but he’s always around the ball and tied for second in the FBS with six interceptions in 2024. He misses some tackles, but he’s a good run defender for a corner and has the size to continue to get better.”
NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein’s evaluation pointed out Frazier’s age. He will turn 25 during his rookie season. Zierlein also underscored why he was a sound selection.
“Long-limbed corner with low career rep count but impressive production in lone starting season. Frazier is long, fast and athletic but upright and gawky in transitions from off-man coverage. He stays connected to all forms of vertical routes and uses his length/leaping ability to shade deep windows for the quarterback. He sees well from zone coverage and can burst/stride into plays on the football that some can’t get to,” Zierlein wrote in his pre-draft write-up.
“His traits, in-season improvement and ball production could make him a Day 3 pick with upside as an outside corner.”
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler ranked Frazier as CB23 but called him a “worthy” gamble.
“Frazier has a rare combination of length, speed and on-ball production (even if it is a small sample). His tall, upright posture will work against him at times, especially when he prematurely turns his hips and invites route runners to attack his blind spot,” Brugler wrote on April 9. “Frazier is a long, lean bump-and-run corner with the speed and coordination to cling to receivers and find the football, when his technique stays consistent.”