Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
After meeting with veteran safety Antrel Rolle yesterday, the Bears are bringing in another safety, former Chief Ron Parker, for a visit today. I’m not sure if that means the meeting with Rolle didn’t go well or if the Bears are targeting both players to restock a safety position with arguably the least amount of talent in the league.
Parker was an undrafted free agent out of Newberry College in 2011 and was a versatile journeyman who played for four teams in the first two years of his career before ending up with the Chiefs. In his two years in Kansas City Parker played corner and both safety positions before earning the starting free safety spot for most of 2014. He started 11 games at free safety last season but also four at corner.
Parker has good size at 6’0, 206 pounds and is only 27 years old. In his first year as a starter Parker had 94 tackles, a sack, interception and forced fumble. He is considered strong in coverage with the ability to limit big plays and improved steadily against the run as the season progressed. His versatility to play either corner or safety should interest the Bears who need help at both positions.
Another point in Parker’s favor is his expected price tag of around $4M which should be less than a more established safety like Rolle. Ideally the Bears will sign both. A group consisting of Rolle, Parker, Ryan Mundy, and Brock Vereen would be a significant talent upgrade over last year’s group.
There are rumored to be as many as six other teams with interest in Parker, so the Bears would be smart to get a deal signed before he leaves Chicago today. It is a very weak safety class in this year’s draft and many of the top free agents options are already off the table, though my top available option Rahim Moore is still unsigned.