Bears Already Meeting With Possible Eddie Jackson Replacement

Once Eddie Jackson got cut by the Chicago Bears, replacing him became a challenge for GM Ryan Poles. The upcoming NFL draft isn't overly strong at the safety position and the Bears don't have a 2nd round pick. That meant the odds were already high that they would look for answers in free agency, especially with the array of high-profile cuts happening around the league. It appears they aren't wasting time in those efforts as they've already played host to one of those veterans this week.

According to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, former Pro Bowler Kevin Byard visited Halas Hall on Saturday to meet with the team brass. He was an excellent safety for several years in Tennessee, corralling nine interceptions between 2021 and 2022 alone. Last year, the Philadelphia Eagles traded for him and he helped them make the playoffs. Though 30 years old, there is no reason to suspect he can't be a nice short-term solution for the vacancy next to Jaquan Brisker until they have better options in the draft next year.

Byard is exactly what the Chicago Bears want.

With Brisker handling the dirty work around the line of scrimmage, they need somebody who can handle duties in single-high coverage. That requires a player with range, instincts, and ball skills. Byard has all of those things. Not only that, but he's also a more reliable run defender than Jackson was, boasting a thicker frame to handle tackling. He finished with over 100 in three different seasons. More than anything, the Bears' interest likely stems from the probability he will be cheap. Given how loaded the safety group is right now, it is hard to imagine Byard costing more than $4 million.

This move isn't all that surprising. While the Chicago Bears have good resources, they're not infinite. They were always going to have to compromise somewhere. Safety seems like the most logical. The market is rich with veteran options. Prices will be favorable. Byard is a great fit for Matt Eberflus's scheme. Their secondary could do with a veteran presence since everybody else is 25 or younger. It comes down to how much money he wants and if the Bears are interested in any other names out there.