/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/71997558/usa_today_19167460.0.jpg)
If there's one position the Chicago Bears are pretty comfortable at, it's got to be safety. They could always use more depth as insurance, but their two starters consist of a veteran with All-Pro and Pro Bowl experience on his resume and a 2022 All-Rookie performer.
In this 12-part series, I'll list the current Chicago players' contract status on a position-by-position basis while speculating on some offseason moves that could happen.
Eddie Jackson - Signed through 2024 - Jackson bounced back in a big way after a down 2021 and was among the leading vote-getters for the Pro Bowl before he was injured. The 29-year-old had 80 tackles, 4 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles in 12 games. His Lisfranc injury did not require surgery, and he should be good to go this offseason.
As for his contract, his cap hit is about $17 million in 2023, $18 million in 2014, and there's a void year in 2025 for $1.59 million. Considering how much cap space the Bears have this season, there's no need to make a move, but if his play slips, he could be a cap casualty next year.
Jaquan Brisker - Signed through 2025 - Brisker's versatility was on display all season long, and he got better as he gained comfort in the scheme. In 15 games, he had 73 tackles, 5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and a team-leading 4 sacks. I'm excited to see his year two jump.
DeAndre Houston-Carson - Free agent - DHC has carved out a nice niche for himself on the Bears as a core special teamer and spot starter at safety. His 9 special team tackles was second on the team, and he added a forced fumble in the third phase too. He'll turn 30 this April, but I think he will return on another one-year deal.
Dane Cruikshank - Free agent - The Bears wanted Cruikshank to play the third phase and provide some safety depth, but injuries limited him to just 8 games and 119 snaps on special teams. In 2021 he played in over 400 snaps on defense for the Titans, so perhaps Chicago will run him back on another one-year contract.
Elijah Hicks - Signed through 2025 - Hicks started 2 of the 15 games he appeared in and played in 55% of the third-phase snaps.
A.J. Thomas - Signed through 2023 - The rookie UDFA appeared in 5 games and will have a chance to win a reserve spot in 2023.
Adrian Colbert - Signed through 2023 - Colbert signed a reserve/futures contract after ending last season on Chicago's practice squad. The Bears are Colbert's 10th NFL team since being a seventh-round pick of the 'Niners in 2017, and he has 22 starts in 41 career games.
2023 OUTLOOK - I don't see the Bears spending anything significant at safety in free agency. Houston-Carson played on a third consecutive one-year contract in 2022 that was for $1,770,000, so I could see him returning around that figure to backup Jackson and Brisker.
Hicks, Thomas, and Colbert being under contract probably makes re-signing Cruikshank irrelevant. If they do target a veteran safety, it'll be a league-minimum situation to compete for a reserve role.
I could see the Bears pulling the trigger if there's a day three BPA situation at safety in the NFL Draft, but it's not a position they'll prioritize.
Do you think the Bears will bring in any new safeties this offseason?
Loading comments...