The Chicago Bears have not wasted a single second of the 2020 offseason thus far. They already purged their offensive roster of three assistant coaches and quickly hired another in offensive line coach Juan Castillo. While head coach Matt Nagy has been busy, GM Ryan Pace is right there with him. Barely a week after the regular season came to a close, the team has already worked out their first big contract move.
Star safety Eddie Jackson agreed to a four-year extension with the Bears at $58.4 million according to Ian Rapoport. It will make him the highest-paid safety in the NFL. Not a surprise after he made his second Pro Bowl in two years. Jackson has 10 interceptions and five defensive touchdowns through his first three years with the Bears and is unquestionably one of their most indispensable players. Easily the best draft pick of Pace’s tenure.
Some will argue that’s too much money but the fact is Jackson is worth every penny. There aren’t many players like him in the NFL. Also, with the ongoing issues on offense, it’s vital the Bears maintain their defensive core for as long as possible.
Chicago Bears must now turn their focus to Allen Robinson
Getting Jackson done this fast is a terrific maneuver by Pace. Now the GM is free to focus the bulk of the next two months on the other vital extension he needs to get done. That of wide receiver Allen Robinson. The 26-year old is coming off a season of over 1,100 yards and seven touchdowns. One of the best the Bears have seen in a long time. Considering all the other problems on the unit? That makes his performance even more impressive. He will enter next season on the final year of the contract he signed with the team in 2018.
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He’s already expressed interest in staying. Robinson would love to carve out his own legacy in Chicago, becoming the all-time franchise leader in receiving. Certainly not the hardest hurdle to clear. Either way, the Bears would be foolish not to direct the bulk of their time and energy to get that done.
