3 Reasons Dane Cruikshank fits the Chicago Bears new regime
By Dakota Wayne
Reason No. 2 Dane Cruikshank fits the Chicago Bears: He fits Poles’ free agent checklist
“We’re going to be young, fast, and physical,” said Ryan Poles; and ever since that’s been his M.O. when going after free agents.
Although there have been misses, Ryan Poles shouldn’t be blamed for having to go this route. In a perfect world– one that Ryan Pace didn’t create– the Chicago Bears wouldn’t have to play this “get ’em cheap” mentality; but with a limited amount of draft picks and the remaining time of Justin Fields’ rookie contract ticking, Poles is attacking it the best he can without putting the team in the hole more than it already is.
Bears have signed safety Dane Cruikshank.
— Max Markham (@MaxMarkhamNFL) March 30, 2022
26, got his first start last year with the Titans. Went on to start 3 more times and saw the field in 14 games total.
He had 1 PD, 1 FF, 43 tackles.
Ryan Poles is clearly valuing age, price & evidence the player is improving.
At just 26-years-old, Dane Cruikshank could be a steal if he pans out to be the guy Ryan Poles is hoping for. Now, is that the most likely? The ball is in Cruikshank’s court to be a true starter in this league if he wants to. The Bears’ current defensive backfield is pretty wide open, so if Cruikshank performs to the expectations of Ryan Poles, Matt Eberflus, and the rest of the Chicago Bears, he could find himself being a real part of this defense– not just a depth piece.
Now, with fitting the head coach’s likely scheme and fitting the general manager’s ideal “build” of a free agent signing, what else is there to think that Dane Cruikshank is a good fit for the Chicago Bears?