Eddie Jackson is fast becoming the best draft pick the Chicago Bears have made in years. Last spring, everybody seemed certain the kid might serve as a nice backup and special teams player. Experts were convinced he was too thin and couldn’t handle the rigors of the NFL. Especially after seeing him break his leg. That’s why he fell to the 4th round, but that didn’t stop GM Ryan Pace.
He made the unusual decision to trade up from #117 to #112 in order to draft the young safety. There was a feeling the athleticism, speed, and ball-hawking instincts were worth the risk despite the injury setback. Turns out? Pace knew what he was doing. Jackson immediately worked his way into the starting free safety job and has since begun his ascent to being one of the best at his position in the NFL.
Just 27 games into his career, Jackson has five defensive touchdowns. His playmaking instinct is rare. Something Chicago hasn’t seen since Mike Brown over a decade ago and this might be even better. This has led to people asking the obvious question. Who does Jackson compare to the most?
Eddie Jackson emulates Ed Reed but likely isn’t who the Bears envisioned
The popular name being thrown around of late is future Hall of Famer Ed Reed. The nine-time Pro Bowler and former Defensive Player of the Year played a style similar to Jackson. Throw the ball anywhere in his area and he’s liable to pick it off. Their body types are also somewhat alike.
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Fun as that is to think about, Reed probably isn’t the one Pace had visions of when he watching tape of Jackson leading up to the draft. There was another former All-Pro who jumped into his mind.
Bringing up the name Darren Sharper these days is a bit taboo, for obvious reasons. The man is serving time in prison for multiple counts of raping women. In these situations, it’s difficult to separate the football player from the person off the field. Still, it’s hard to ignore the similarities he and Jackson share.
The body types, the range, the instinct and the ability to do something with the football after they get it. Sharper not only had 63 career interceptions, but he also had 13 career defensive touchdowns. His ability to cut off passing lanes and take it to the house was special. It’s why the New Orleans Saints signed him in 2009. Many say to this day it was his addition that made that defense ready for the Super Bowl run that followed.
Pace was a front office executive when that signing was made. He saw up close what the value was of a player like Sharper on the back end. That explains his aggressive move in the draft last year to go get Jackson. With a little luck, he might get something similar. So far it’s looking like he was correct.
