Nahshon Wright signed a one-year deal with the New York Jets. The arrival of Coby Bryant means Jaquan Brisker and maybe Kevin Byard won’t return. It is abundantly clear that the Chicago Bears are overhauling a large swath of their secondary. That continued on Tuesday as they secured veteran Cam Lewis to a two-year deal. Lewis spent the past seven seasons with the Buffalo Bills, signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2019. Since then, he has served in a variety of different roles.
It would be inaccurate to call him a safety or a cornerback. The truth is Lewis played both roles with the Bills. They lined him up everywhere. However, the area he seemed to occupy the most was the slot. Though only 5’9″ and 183 lbs, he has the quick feet and fluidity needed to play coverage in that spot. Remember, the Bears were abused in the slot almost every week last season because of Kyler Gordon’s constant absence. Lewis should give them some much-needed insurance.
If that weren’t enough, he is also a quality presence on special teams, notching six tackles in each of the past two seasons.
Cam Lewis is depth. Let’s make that clear.
Nothing about his arrival suggests the Bears have found a starter. He’s a solid football player who can wear several hats on defense. Dennis Allen has often preferred such types in the past. Just don’t count on him becoming a playmaker for you. In seven seasons, he has one interception and no sacks. The good news is he’s not prone to getting beaten a lot. He’s a solid, reliable rotational player who can make teammates’ lives easier. In no way does he represent the end of the Bears’ work on the secondary.
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With Bryant here, they have one starting safety. It is likely they will hunt for a second one and may look for another body at cornerback as well. Cam Lewis will jump onto the field this season as a way to help guys get quick breathers on the sideline. His knack for slot coverage was the biggest selling point. A good depth move. It shows how careful the Bears continue to be, protecting their finances while still adding capable bodies. It will be interesting to see how the formula in the secondary shakes out.
