The Chicago Bears haven’t made any notable roster tweaks since undrafted free agency ended last month. Since then, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have spent time evaluating their players and seeing how things look. There is plenty to be excited about. Justin Fields’ revamped supporting cast, led by D.J. Moore, looks strong. The new linebacking corps, helmed by Tremaine Edmunds, is living up to the early hype. It feels like the roster is much deeper and more talented than last season.
That said, it’s not perfect. There are still areas of the depth chart that raise some questions. Most will point to edge rusher as the biggest. It’s true. However, one position that isn’t talked about enough is safety. Jaquan Brisker figures to be an excellent starter. Eddie Jackson made another Pro Bowl, but he is coming off a Lisfranc injury in his foot. If that weren’t iffy enough, the team has uncertainty with their backup spots too. DeAndre Houston-Carson is gone. That leaves Elijah Hicks and rookie Kendall Williamson as the likeliest options.
Dangerous living with Jackson’s health status still uncertain. That is why the Bears must consider adding veteran help, and one name out there feels like an obvious target.
The Chicago Bears would love John Johnson.
While never a star of the show during his stints in Los Angeles and Cleveland, he has been a steady and reliable player for several years. He has 12 career interceptions, 41 passes defended, and 512 tackles in 86 career games. He is still only 27 years old, which makes it rather surprising nobody has signed him yet. If that continues going into July, the Bears absolutely should approach him about a deal. He is not only experienced but versatile. He can play both free safety and strong safety without much trouble.
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Johnson may not be wild about the idea of coming off the bench behind Jackson and Brisker. Then again, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams is a safety specialist. He knows how to utilize that position better than most. If anybody can pull off a three-man rotation, it’s him. If anything, that would give the team some versatility to still play the run well, even in nickel coverages. This sort of move could solidify the Bears’ secondary has one of the deepest in the league.
