LOS ANGELES — The Cardinal and Gold confetti has settled, but for USC safety Bishop Fitzgerald, the real work begins now. After a standout 2025 campaign where he snagged a team-leading five interceptions and secured First Team All-American honors, the 5-foot-11 ball-hawk is officially heading to the 2026 NFL Draft. His departure hands the keys of the Trojan secondary to rising stars Christian Pierce and Kennedy Urlacher, but scouts are already buzzing about where Fitzgerald lands on Sundays.
He isn’t the biggest safety in the class, but his tape screams instinct. Fitzgerald operates like a heat-seeking missile in zone coverage, a trait that has three specific NFL franchises circling his name on their draft boards.
1. Chicago Bears: Finishing the Ben Johnson Masterpiece
Head Coach Ben Johnson turned the Windy City into the “Cardiac Kids” during his debut season, smashing an NFL record with nine fourth-quarter comebacks and a Divisional Round appearance. But let’s be honest: the magic ran out because the secondary couldn’t hold the line.
With C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kevin Byard, and Jaquan Brisker all hitting pending free agency, the Bears’ defensive backfield is staring at a massive void. Johnson needs a stabilizer—someone who doesn’t just react to plays but anticipates them.
Fitzgerald fits the NFC North profile perfectly. He lacks the raw size of a traditional box safety, but his speed and zone awareness would allow him to slot instantly into a defense that desperately needs to turn pass breakups into turnovers. In a division where precision passing rules, Fitzgerald is the eraser Chicago is missing.
2. Dallas Cowboys: The Post-Parsons Rebuild
Jerry Jones made the gamble of the decade trading Micah Parsons to Green Bay last August. The return? Two first-round picks in this year’s draft. The cost? A defense that plummeted to 30th in the league, surrendering 377 yards per game and managing a pitiful six interceptions all season.
Dak Prescott and the offense did their job, but the defense collapsed when it mattered most, costing Dallas a playoff berth. The Cowboys don’t just need bodies; they need playmakers who can find the ball. Fitzgerald is exactly that.
Dallas has the draft capital to take a swing, and Fitzgerald offers a high-floor solution to their turnover drought. His ability to read quarterback eyes would inject life into a unit that looked lost without a star leader last fall. He could start day one in a scheme that needs to get back to basics: catch the football.
3. Los Angeles Rams: The Local Connection
Matthew Stafford brought home the MVP hardware, and the offense was electric, but defensive coordinator Chris Shula knows the clock is ticking on his secondary. With Kam Curl, Cobie Durant, and Roger McReary potentially walking in March, the Rams are looking at a defensive reset.
This is where Fitzgerald’s versatility shines. He proved at USC that he can digest a playbook quickly and execute complex coverages without hesitation. Shula values flexibility above all else, and Fitzgerald’s ability to roam the deep middle or drop into the slot makes him a plug-and-play option for a team in “win now” mode.
“You don’t replace a guy like Bishop with just athleticism. You replace him with study habits. The guy lived in the film room, and that’s why he was always five steps ahead of the QB.”
— USC Defensive Assistant (Anonymous Source)
Draft Implications / What’s Next
Fitzgerald’s stock is volatile. His height (5’11”) will scare off teams obsessed with measurables, pushing him potentially into the second or third round. However, his production is undeniable. Expect his Combine performance in Indianapolis next week to be the deciding factor. If he runs a sub-4.45 40-yard dash, he locks himself into Day 2. If he slips, one of these three teams could get the steal of the draft.
