With the Chicago Bears sitting at 2-5, it's only natural that discussions about the team center around what they plan to do in 2024. Presuming GM Ryan Poles keeps his job, he'll have two 1st round picks and a mountain of cap space to continue building up the roster. The obvious debate is what positions he'll focus on. Quarterback is one big possibility. Left tackle, defensive line, center, and wide receiver will also be in the discussion. However, one position isn't getting enough attention, which should be.
Safety.
This defense the Bears run relies on having good safeties to function at a high level. It was hoped the combination of Eddie Jackson and Jaquan Brisker could form a tandem that opponents feared. For a time last season, that was the case. Brisker was a force around the line of scrimmage, while Jackson was back to picking off passes in centerfield. Sadly, things have taken a turn for the worse. Jackson missed the final five games of 2022 with a foot injury. It's now becoming clear that the problem hasn't gone away, as he's missed four of the first seven games with continued issues with that same foot.
It's time to accept the probability that this is Jackson's last season in Chicago.
The Chicago Bears need to start the hunt for a replacement.
Jackson is 30 years old, entering the downslope of his career. He's now missed nine of his last 13 games. To top it off, his salary cap hit in 2024 will be over $18 million. Poles seems highly unlikely to be interested in paying that for someone who has become unreliable. That means he must start preparing a search for a viable replacement. Free agency will be a good place to start. The market could feature some prominent names depending on what happens with extensions and franchise tags.
- Julian Blackmon
- Xavier McKinney
- Antoine Winfield Jr.
- Kyle Dugger
- Darnell Savage
- Geno Stone
Regarding the draft, the Chicago Bears will have some options depending on when they decide to address the position. Andrew Mukuba (Clemson), Kamren Kichens (Miami), Rod Moore (Michigan), and James Williams (Miami) are all considered top prospects. If it's an exact replica of what Jackson offers, Kichens might be the one to watch with his outstanding ball skills. Make no mistake. Safety will be a major topic of discussion next spring.
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