The Chicago Bears have done some strong work this offseason to upgrade their roster. Nick Foles adds quality competition at quarterback. Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet improve the tight end position. Darnell Mooney and Ted Ginn Jr. bring needed speed at wide receiver. Jaylon Johnson can step in to help replace Prince Amukamara. Robert Quinn adds a badly needed second edge rusher across from Khalil Mack. One spot though that remained questionable was safety after Ha Ha Clinton-Dix left for Dallas. That changed when the Bears signed veteran Tashaun Gipson.
A former Pro Bowler, he’s had a fairly successful career in the league. He was a budding star in Cleveland before joining Jacksonville as a free agent in 2016. There he helped the team reach the AFC championship a year later. Last season he signed with the Houston Texans and helped them make the playoffs. Despite this, the team decided to part ways just one year into a three-year contract.
Brad Biggs revealed that while it was a shock for him, it was a big stroke of luck for the Bears.
“The Texans owe Gipson $3.25 million this season, so with offset language, they will actually pick up the tab for $2.2 million, leaving the Bears a bargain at a minimum-salary deal for $1.05 million. Had the Texans kept Gipson this season, they would have paid him $7.5 million.
Gipson is 30 and suffered a back injury last season, a transverse process fracture. He missed two games and was placed on injured reserve going into the postseason. You’re looking at a combination of factors led by the Texans’ realization that they probably overpaid for Gipson in 2019. Instead of continuing down that path, they opted for more cost-effective options and in doing so put the Bears in play for a bargain.”
Texans’ own mistake allow Bears to steal Tashaun Gipson
Normally a player of Gipson’s proven skills would’ve signed for considerably more as a free agent than the veteran minimum. However, because Houston still owed him some guaranteed money the Bears were able to finagle a one-year agreement where he gets an extra $1.05 million on top of the other $2.2 million from the Texans while getting to play on a top 5 defense. Then he’ll be a free agent again in 2021 with a chance to earn a larger payday. Pretty much a win-win situation for both parties.
For his part, Gipson said there were two primary factors that convinced him to sign in Chicago. The first was Buster Skrine. The Bears’ nickel corner was teammates and good friends with the safety in Cleveland. Then of course was the chance to pair with Eddie Jackson, one of the best safeties in the game. He feels the two of them together can make for a “deadly” combination. Behind that pass rush, the possibilities are certainly there.
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