The Chicago Bears 2017 draft class may be the best of the last decade. Despite only having five picks, GM Ryan Pace managed to secure three impact players for his team. All three of them have now appeared in the Pro Bowl. Mitch Trubisky went as an alternate in 2018. Tarik Cohen made All-Pro as a punter returner. However, the best of the bunch at this point in time undoubtedly has to be safety Eddie Jackson.
After a strong rookie season that saw him intercept two passes and score two touchdowns, he exploded in 2018 for six interceptions and three more touchdowns. This earned him All-Pro honors and a trip to his first Pro Bowl. Most people now view him as the best pure free safety in the NFL and arguably the best ballhawk at his position since the great Ed Reed. As high praise as one could expect to get.
The question is did this earn him consideration for being one of the best players from his draft class? The answer is yes, though some may not agree with the placement that NFL.com’s Maurice Jones-Drew had him at.
“Jackson has emerged as one of the best ball-hawking safeties in the game right now. The Pro Bowler has the ability to be the unit’s traffic-control guy and is a big reason the back end of the Bears’ defense is as good as its front. With six interceptions and a pair of forced fumbles in his breakout campaign, Jackson looks like the next Earl Thomas.”
Eddie Jackson predictably gets underrated again
Being in the top 10 is an honor, sure. Yet to be ranked so low despite his excellent production and the fact he played on the best defense last year? It’s hard not to think the man was slighted. Especially when fellow safety Jamal Adams claimed the #3 spot. Adams is a terrific player, but he had four fewer interceptions, three fewer passes defended, and three fewer touchdowns in 2018 than Jackson did. Yet he’s seven slots better.
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That feels like a bit of disrespect. Not that Jackson minds. His focus is on finishing what he started last year. He never got a chance to play in that playoff loss to Philadelphia due to his unfortunate ankle injury. There’s no doubt he felt he could’ve made a difference. This time around it’s about being better personally, but also ensuring his team closes the deal and wins a championship. Maybe then people will be forced to take proper notice of how good he is.
