The Chicago Bears were very happy with Eddie Jackson in 2022. Despite missing several games at the end of the season with a foot injury, he still finished with four interceptions to lead the team and made his third Pro Bowl. There is no reason to believe GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have any plans to replace him this coming season. He’s still the best player in their secondary. That being said, it looks like the organization doesn’t plan to let him get comfortable.
Some things to keep in mind. Jackson turns 30 this December. He’s also coming off a significant injury that has proven detrimental to many careers in the past. Last but not least, his contract has two years left on it. Neither year has any guaranteed money left to pay. That means the Bears are free to unload him if they sense he might be taking a downturn in his effectiveness on the field. That might explain why they’re looking into notable safety prospect Brandon Joseph with the draft around the corner.
He revealed to The Draft Network that he was meeting with Chicago privately.
“I’ve been very with the virtual visits. I’ll be visiting the Chicago Bears later this week in person. April is always a very busy month.”
Joseph isn’t Eddie Jackson the athlete but he fits Eberflus.
Jackson has far more speed and range than the Notre Dame standout. It’s part of what makes him such a great free safety. However, Joseph fits more of what this coaching staff likes in safeties. He has the instincts and ball skills they look for, but is also very good at keying and diagnosing against the run. He’s drawn comparisons to former Cincinnati Bengals standout Jessie Bates. While he may not have Jackson’s upside, his game is well-rounded enough to be a solid #2 next to Jaquan Brisker and a contributor on special teams.
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If nothing else, Joseph would be an excellent replacement for DeAndre Houston-Carson. The longtime backup safety was highly dependable whenever Eddie Jackson went down with an injury and became a special teams ace. Joseph has that same capability. He needs to work on his tackling. If he does that, the Bears should be able to take full advantage of his outstanding ball skills. They know more about him than most teams due to Notre Dame’s proximity to Chicago. If they’re interested, it’s for a good reason.
