GM Ryan Poles will ultimately have the final say when it comes to the Chicago Bears roster. That is how it should be. However, don’t get it twisted. Head coach Matt Eberflus will have a strong voice in those discussions. Especially on the defensive side of the ball. The interesting part is which positions he may help at the most. Linebacker is the most obvious since he played the position himself in college.
He seems to have a strong nose for one other area for though. That is safety. The importance of this is rather timely. Remember that three of the top four safeties on the roster from last season will be free agents next month. Only Eddie Jackson is still under contract. So there is a strong possibility multiple new faces will arrive before the end of April. Having Eberflus in the building could prove crucial.
His track record says as much.
It first manifested back when he was the defensive coordinator for Missouri. The coach played a pivotal role in recruiting a young man named William Moore. After a productive career for the Tigers, the safety became a 2nd round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2009 and would make the Pro Bowl in 2012. The coach struck again a few years later when he assisted the Indianapolis Colts in drafting Khari Willis and Julian Blackmon in consecutive offseasons.
The two have since formed one of the better safety tandems in the NFL over the past couple of years. Willis had 63 tackles, 1.5 sacks, and two interceptions in just 11 games last season. Blackmon had 34 tackles and a forced fumble in just six games. When the two were together on the field, the Colts defense was at its most formidable. Further proof that Matt Eberflus knows what to look for at the position.
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Nobody knows for sure how high on the priority list safety will be. Chicago has other big needs to fill. Not just on offense but also cornerback and defensive tackle. Poles may end up waiting until late in the draft to address the back end. So having Eberflus there could prove crucial.
