The Chicago Bears chose not to tender DeAndre Houston-Carson.
While the Bears have had a flurry of minor activity the last few days, there was one thing that came across a little surprising.
DeAndre Houston-Carson, while he hasn’t shown much defensively, he has proven to be a very valuable member of the Chicago Bears special teams. A unit, objectively, that has been average at best.
But Houston-Carson may not find himself in a Bears’ uniform in 2019.
#Bears' decision not to tender DeAndre Houston-Carson surprises me a bit. Not that he was going to replace Amos, but he led them in s/t tackles from 2017-18 and was a core-four guy.
— Arthur Arkush (@ArthurArkush) March 13, 2019
Magnifies need to make over third phase this offseason.
The Bears chose not to tender DHC who was a restricted free agent. That doesn’t necessarily mean that he’s gone. The Bears could re-sign him to a contract less than what the price of the original round tender is, but you also have to wonder if that means the Bears have moved on.
The Bears are most likely going to keep four safeties on the roster. Eddie Jackson we know, and obviously, HaHa Clinton Dix will be one of the other safeties. Deon Bush will certainly remain on this roster as the Bears third safety.
Bush can sub for HCD in more of a box safety/strong safety mode. If Eddie Jackson needs to go to the sidelines or misses time, HCD can replace Jackson and Bush can still slide into that same role.
That leaves one safety spot left. In theory, DHC could take that spot, but here’s the issue. HCD is only going to be on this roster for one season.
Assuming Eddie Jackson continues his great play, the Bears are going to extend him after this season and commit major dollars to him. The Bears won’t be in a position to pay two safeties a big chunk of change.
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HCD is going to take advantage of being on a great defense and put up some great numbers and look to get a lucrative contract in 2020. Bush will be a free agent. The Bears are going to need a safety on a rookie deal to play alongside Jackson.
The smart money should be on the Bears to use their third or fourth round pick this year on a safety. Someone that can sit behind HCD and Jackson and be groomed to move into the starting role and start in 2020. That player will not be DHC and odds are the Bears won’t carry five safeties.
Ryan Pace can’t rely on the idea of getting another veteran safety of HCD’s abilities and at that price. This was a steal for the Bears and not something they can rely on. They need to start grooming another safety. That safety isn’t on the roster.
If that’s the Bears plan (and it should be), that means that DeAndre Houston-Carson has played his last game for the Chicago Bears.