Baltimore Ravens. (Photo by Patrick Smith/Getty Images)
The Chicago Bears have a hole at their starting safety spot opposite Eddie Jackson, and one top-tier free agent may want to come to Chicago…
NFL free agency has officially begun and the Chicago Bears have made a slew of moves in hoping to improve their roster entering the upcoming football season. However, after a quick glance at the Bears depth chart you will quickly realize that the Bears are in desperate need of a starting strong safety, opposite that of All-Pro defensive back, Eddie Jackson.
Well, what about Ha Ha Clinton-Dix? Incase you didn’t see the latest sports news, but Ha Ha Clinton-Dix has reunited with his former Head Coach, Mike McCarthy by signing a one-year deal worth $4 million with the Dallas Cowboys. In a corresponding move, the Bears signed core special teamer, Deon Bush.
Now, I am of the belief that Bush should be allowed to battle for the second starting safety spot, but as news trickles out it has become clear that another safety is extremely interested in coming to Chicago…
Enter former Baltimore Ravens safety, Tony Jefferson… The hard hitting, former undrafted box safety has made it evidently clear that he’d welcome the opportunity to play on the lakefront.
Jefferson joined the Baltimore Ravens in 2017 and since then has accumulated 174 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, three-and-a-half sacks and two interceptions. Unfortunately, Jefferson’s past season was cut short due to severe knee injury.
Jefferson is currently just 28-years old, and is revered in the league as one of the hardest hitting safeties. A signing of the Oklahoma product would be a perfect fit alongside Eddie Jackson, and would bring that “dog” mentality to the back end of the Bears ferocious defensive unit.
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That idea seems to be on the top of Cordarrelle Patterson‘s mind, as well. It seems like Patterson is not only a fan of Jefferson, but that he may be the best sales man for the Chicago Bears.
So, the real question is what would it take for the Bears to get Jefferson to sign on the dotted line? Well, Clinton-Dix signed a one-year deal worth $4 million ($2.5 million fully guaranteed). Given the circumstances, Clinton Dix is a year-younger than Jefferson and played a full, productive season last year.
With that all being stated, Jefferson will hold a dead cap hit in Baltimore for the 2020 season of $4.65 million. Therefore, I believe the Bears could get Jefferson to sign for a one-year, incentivized deal worth roughly $3.5 million guaranteed. This would allow Jefferson to play behind an elite defensive front, and reset his market value to cash in during the 2021 free agency period.
Would that get it done? I believe so. Is a healthy Jefferson worth more than that on the open market? Absolutely, but Jefferson is coming off a bad season (due to health issues) and the strong safety market has been suppressed due to an abundance of options at a position that isn’t as favorable as the ball-hawking free safety spot. Will Ryan Pace make the move for Tony Jefferson? Only time will tell…
