Chicago Bears Connected To Notable Playmaker As Free Agency Looms

For all the attention paid to quarterback, wide receiver, and edge rusher, the Chicago Bears have figure out what to do at safety. Jaquan Brisker remains a fixed presence on the back end, but Eddie Jackson is officially gone. His exit creates uncertainty with their free safety spot. For this defense to work, they need somebody who can provide solid coverage over the top. If Jackson isn’t around to do that anymore, GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus must go find somebody who can.

The obvious question is where. While the draft would be a place to look, the Bears don’t have a 2nd round pick, and they won’t use one of their top 10 selections on a safety. That means they must either take their chances on a possible 3rd-round pick or look for solutions in free agency. Notable names will be available, headlined by the New York Giants’ Xavier McKinney and the Baltimore Ravens’ Geno Stone. However, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, there is another name to keep an eye on.

“It will be interesting to see how the Bears fill the hole at free safety. They’ve got some experienced players on the back half but I wonder if Matt Eberflus will prefer a veteran for all of the communication that has to take place. One scout wondered aloud if Jordan Fuller of the Los Angeles Rams would be a good fit for the Bears. He had three interceptions, eight pass breakups and three forced fumbles last season.”

Fuller is precisely what the Chicago Bears would like.

Not only does he bring size and range to the table, but his ball skills are what truly stand out. He’s 6’2 and 206 lbs, making it easier to play a physical brand of football. Yet he has the athleticism and range to give quarterbacks problems in coverage. The guy is always around the football. Best of all, projections indicate he won’t command a huge payday on the free agent market. It is estimated that signing him will cost around $5 million per year. That is more than affordable for the Bears.

Much of this will be dictated by what their priorities are. Word is the Chicago Bears also hope to make additions at wide receiver, defensive line, and even running back when the market opens. Poles is known for not wanting to spend too much in free agency, so only one of those positions is likely to see a big swing. Fuller would make sense as one of those cost-effective veterans the GM likes to target. The safety just turned 26 years old. He is squarely in his prime. It would be a solid addition.