According to multiple sources, the Chicago Bears have agreed to a contract with veteran safety Quintin Demps, formerly of the Houston Texans. The contract is reportedly for three years and $13.5M.
The Bears badly needed a veteran safety to stabilize their secondary after relying on mostly unproven young players last season. Demps, 31, is coming off the best season of his ten-year career as a starter for the top-ranked defense in football.
He led the Texans and finished second in the NFL with six interceptions last season in 13 starts. Demps also had 55 tackles, nine pass deflections, and a forced fumble. Pro Football Focus graded Demps as the 12th best safety in the NFL last season and the seventh best safety available in free agency.
Interesting nugget on new #Bears safety Quintin Demps, he was @PFF's 12th-ranked safety in 2016. pic.twitter.com/vS5UZf3JwA
— Scott Krinch (@scottiekrinch) March 9, 2017
The Bears not only needed a reliable safety, but they needed one who can generate turnovers. With six interceptions last year, Demps had just two less than the entire Bears defense. It was a career high for Demps, but he’s shown good ball skills in the past as well with 15 picks over the last four seasons.
Demps has good enough size at 6’0, 206 pounds and had great speed when coming out of college (4.39). He bounced around the league early in his career and didn’t get his first start until 2013, but has started 26 games for the Texans the last two seasons and his play has steadily improved with increased playing time.
Talk about getting better with age. New Bears safety Quintin Demps has steadily improved over his eight year career. pic.twitter.com/RTeZ6aMRZC
— Vinnie Ronca (@VinnieRonca) March 9, 2017
Demps is also known as a strong presence in the locker room and should be able to set a good example for the Bears young secondary. Here is what fellow safety Chris Moore had to say about Demps last year:
"“Quintin, I call him the ambassador,” Moore said. “He makes the calls. He brings energy. He sets the tone. I learn from him inside and outside of the film room. He’s a big family man. When I have problems outside of football, we talk. He’s a great guy.”"
His former coaches had high praise for Demps as well. Here is a quote from Texans head coach Bill O’Brien:
"“Demps has had a good year for us,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “His interceptions, he’s got good hands. He’s very instinctive. He’s a leader back there. What I’ve been impressed with is his tackling. He’s really been a guy that’s been kind of an eraser back there when a play has kind of broken free, run or pass.”"
The Bears needed a reliable safety, who could force turnovers, and provide leadership to a young secondary. It sounds to me like Demps checks all those boxes and should be a valuable addition to the Bears in 2017.