While the Bears had their share of struggles in 2019, one player that stepped up in the face of injuries to Chicago’s defense was inside linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.

Kwiatkoski is primed to get paid in free agency. While the Bears would love to re-sign the veteran inside linebacker, the market for Kwiatkoski will have no shortage of potential suitors.

One of the teams poised to make a run at Kwiatkoski are Chicago’s rivals to the north in the Packers, according to Aaron Nagler of CheeseheadTV.

Kwiatkoski shined in relief of the injured Danny Trevathan, where he had career highs with 76 combined tackles, three sacks, four pass breakups and a safety, as well as one forced fumble. He was one of the better defenders down the stretch for the Bears.

This isn’t the first time that the Packers have looked to Chicago for some free agents. Green Bay tried to sign cornerback Kyle Fuller to a four-year $56 million contract back in 2018. But the Bears matched their offer and locked up their Pro Bowl corner for the future.

Last season, the Bears lost safety Adrian Amos to the Packers in free agency, but it didn’t seem like Chicago was willing to pay Amos $36 million over four years. Instead, they signed safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a one-year prove-it deal worth $3 million.

The Bears have a decision to make at inside linebacker this offseason. Kwiatkoski is one of three pending free agents, which also includes Trevathan and Kevin Pierre-Louis. And the Bears need to find someone to line up opposite Roquan Smith in 2020.

Chicago would love for that to be Kwiatkoski, but they might not be able to afford him. And if Kwiatkoski went to the rival Packers, it would only make his loss more painful.