The Chicago Bears were more than happy to make Eddie Jackson the highest-paid safety in the NFL last year. At the time, there was no denying the guy had earned it. He’d gone from 4th round pick to All-Pro in the span of just one year and made the Pro Bowl again in 2019. Nobody questioned the decision at the time. Boy, has that ever changed. If there is one move GM Ryan Pace might be regretting, it’s Jackson.
There is just no way to mince words. Despite once again playing on a top 10 defense, Jackson is flirting with the territory of being an outright liability. That is incredible to think about given where he was not too long ago. Yet that is the reality. Pro-Football-Reference released their list of the five worst defenders in coverage this season. Jackson is 4th. A guy who was briefly considered one of the best at his position in the entire NFL.
Worst passer rating allowed by a defender when targeted, min. 10 targets:
1. Brandon Stephens – 158.3
2. CJ Henderson – 156.2
3. Kindle Vildor – 155.7
4. Eddie Jackson – 155.2
5. Daniel Sorensen – 153.8https://t.co/iBBUhW8Deh— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) October 14, 2021
It doesn’t stop there though.
Jackson has already missed four tackles this season. That puts him on track for 13 this year, tying his career-high from last season. He’s already allowed three touchdowns. Also a career-high. Last but certainly not least? He has now gone 22 games without an interception. Eight games without even a pass breakup. There is no blaming the lack of pass rush either. Chicago leads the NFL with 18 sacks.
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This falls entirely at the feet of Jackson himself. Whatever it was that made him a great player two years ago is long gone. Is it a confidence issue? Has he just lost his mojo? Or perhaps it’s something else. A reality that tends to hit a lot of NFL players. Once he got his money, he lost his edge. He might deny it, but there is no arguing his production fell off a cliff the moment he signed on the dotted line.
Let’s give what Eddie Jackson does here a name. pic.twitter.com/wtwqygwvUc
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) October 11, 2021
"Eddie Jackson, I don't know what the heck's wrong with you, but you need to fix it." pic.twitter.com/yF1gPkf5Xj
— Bears Talk (@NBCSBears) September 13, 2021
Eddie Jackson is running out of lifeline fast
Anybody with eyes can tell the Bears are likely going to do a spring cleaning of their money books this coming offseason. They need cap space to start building around Justin Fields. That may require some sacrifices on the defensive side. If Jackson isn’t careful, he could end up being one of them. They aren’t going to keep paying somebody $14.6 million a year to basically fill a roster spot and not do much else. They paid him to make plays.
If he continues to not do that, the team may look to move on. Either via trade or a post-June 1st cut. Either of which would get them away from that bloated contract. Eddie Jackson may act confident as usual in front of the cameras. He shouldn’t. His level of play isn’t anywhere close to earning the money he’s making. Sooner or later, the Bears brass is going to recognize that.
At that point, past glories won’t protect him.
The NFL is and forever shall be a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league. In Jackson’s case? The answer is not enough. Whatever it is that has him in this prolonged funk, he best figure it out quickly. Fans have already run out of patience with him. It won’t be too much longer before coaches and executives soon follow.