Eddie Jackson, a former All-Pro free safety for the Chicago Bears, has finally spoken out about his offseason release from the organization and shared a farewell message with the fanbase that has embraced him over the last seven seasons.
On February 15, the Bears released Jackson, a starter since 2017, along with veteran interior offensive lineman Cody Whitehair, freeing up around $21.71 million in salary-cap savings. The writing was on the wall for both starters, who struggled with injuries and performed below expectations in 2023.
Now, nearly two months later, Jackson is finally saying goodbye and ‘thank you’ to the Chicago fans who contributed “passion” and “loyalty” to games during his career.
“I owe a debt of gratitude to the Bears organization, the coaches, and my teammates,” Jackson wrote in a post on Instagram (@bojack) on April 9. “You’ve been more than coworkers; you’ve been my family, encouraging me to do my best every day. To the fans, you’ve been the heartbeat of Soldier Field, and it’s been an honour to play for you.”
Jackson, 30, is still an unrestricted free agent after nearly a month of 2024 NFL free agency, but he has started 100 games and intercepted 15 passes over the past seven years, including five interceptions in the last two seasons. While he may have to wait until after the NFL draft at the end of April to find his next job, he appears to be a lock for a new roster spot for the 2024 season as long as he believes he still has gas in the tank.
The Bears signed Kevin Byard to replace Eddie Jackson.
Few were surprised when the Bears released Jackson in February. He had one of the worst seasons of his career for Chicago in 2023 and would have had a cap cost of approximately $18.14 million in the last year of his deal, 2024. Even if Jackson had performed well last season, the Bears would have likely finished in the same position.
More shocking, however, was how quickly the Bears sought his replacement. They could have waited until free agency began in 2024 to locate a new starting safety, or they could have waited even longer and looked for a new safety in the NFL draft. Instead, they signed Kevin Byard, another former All-Pro, three days before the start of the new league year.
Byard is similar to Jackson in a few aspects. Both are already 30 years old and will be available on the open market in 2024, following team releases. They both have ball-hawking tendencies at their positions, with Byard recording 28 interceptions in his first eight NFL seasons, the most of which were spent with the Tennessee Titans.
However, Byard has been more consistent than Jackson in numerous critical areas. He is a more consistent tackler and a valuable contributor in the run game, with a run-defense grade of 72 or higher from Pro Football Focus over the last seven seasons. He has also been amazingly healthy during his 130-game career, never missing a single game or practice, as Byard asserted when he arrived in Chicago.
Given Chicago’s secondary is already stacked with long-term assets, Byard is an excellent fit for the Bears, especially for $15 million over the next two years.
Where Might Eddie Jackson Land for the 2024 Season?
Jackson did not sign with a team, but numerous other veteran safety found new positions during the first wave of free agency. Xavier McKinney signed a large contract with the Green Bay Packers. Geno Stone switched AFC North rivalry lines, moving from Baltimore to Cincinnati. Other in-demand veterans, including Kamren Curl (Los Angeles Rams) and Jordan Whitehead (Tampa Bay), have signed new contracts with new teams.
So, which teams may still sign Jackson for the 2024 season?
The New York Jets may be an alternative. They lost Whitehead in free agency and are still short on safety depth, despite keeping Chuck Clark. While they could and should attempt to add another safety in the NFL draft, they may return to the veteran Jackson if the draft does not produce the needed talent.
The Miami Dolphins may potentially explore Jackson’s market. They lost DeShon Elliott and Brandon Jones to free agency, but signed veteran Jordan Poyer on a one-year contract. They still require depth, but does it make sense for an AFC-contending roster to address that issue with two safeties in their 30s?
Other safety-needing teams, including the Packers, may look at acquiring Jackson as well, although it is unknown which clubs will continue to hunt for depth at the position after the draft. Jackson will also face competition from Justin Simmons, Jamal Adams, Quandre Diggs, Micah Hyde, and other unsigned players.
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