With the offseason approaching, the Chicago Bears must analyze the team and choose who should be let go this offseason. Here are two veterans the Bears should let go.
Two Veterans Who Were Not Chosen
Free Safety, Eddie Jackson
Eddie Jackson has been a fan favorite since being picked in the fourth round by the Chicago Bears in 2017. Jackson has been a dependable hand on the field for the Bears’ defense throughout several coaching and management changes. It’s been a pleasure watching Jackson accumulate interceptions throughout the years and rise to captain the Monsters of the Midway. Jackson was largely regarded as a top-five safety in the NFL at one point, earning him a lucrative top-five contract as a free safety in 2020.
His recent efforts, however, have not been the same. Despite being the Bears’ fourth-highest contract hit at $18 million, Jackson’s play does not meet the standards of a top-5 safety. The greatest days of the 30-year-old free safety are behind him. This offseason, the Bears may need to look into younger, less expensive possibilities at free safety.
Possible substitute: Kinchens, Kamren
Kamren Kinchens, one of the finest safety prospects, is a ball-hawk safety who can make any play. At 5’11, 202 pounds, he should be able to roam the box in Chicago’s defense and complement Bears strong safety Jaquan Brisker. Kinchens adds a ruggedness to Jackson’s performances this season that has been lacking. Given the Bears’ recent selection of the excellent rookie cornerback Tyrique Stevenson from the University of Miami in last year’s draft, the quality in the Hurricanes’ secondary is already recognizable. By drafting Kinchens, Stevenson and Kinchens can be reunited and form a secondary duo for the next decade.
Cody Whitehair, Center/Guard
Cody Whitehair has been a reliable Bears presence for nearly a decade. With the offensive line having suffered numerous injuries over the last two seasons, Whitehair’s flexibility to play both center and guard has benefited the Bears. Whitehair, on the other hand, isn’t the same player he once was.
Whitehair has had a rough season, unable to execute blocking assignments and taking snaps as the Bears’ starting center. Despite being reinserted into the starting lineup owing to the injury to left guard Teven Jenkins, Whitehair has continued to underperform.
Tanor Bortolini could be a suitable replacement.
Tanor Bortolini, unlike Kinchens, is a more unknown possibility in the forthcoming draft. Whitehair’s versatility has been matched by the 6’4 314-pound lineman. Bortolini has started at center, guard, and tackle for the Wisconsin Badgers during the course of his four-year career. Bortolini’s explosive quickness and versatility make him a tremendous asset to any NFL team, despite being slated for later rounds of the selection. Bortolini can be developed and forged into a better form of Whitehair by the Bears.
Respect for the Two Veterans
Despite the fact that Jackson and Whitehair are no longer the players they once were, they deserve to be recognized. Jackson and Whitehair have both exceeded expectations for Bears fans. Leaders who embody what it means to be a Chicago Bear. It’s difficult to say goodbye to both of them. On the contrary, if the Bears want to improve their competitiveness, they must create as much cap room as possible in order to add impact players. There are no harsh feelings.
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