Tuesday morning, the Chicago Bears announced the extension of guard Joe Thuney, who was acquired earlier this offseason in a trade from the Kansas City Chiefs.
This brings up a great question: who's next in line for an extension? This might surprise some people, but the Bears should absolutely get a deal done with reserve safety Jonathan Owens.
The former Green Bay Packer and Houston Texan is coming off his first season with the Bears, but he already looks that of a Bear for life.
The Bears' next extension should be with safety Jonathan Owens
Owens and his wife, Simone Biles, reportedly spent some time back in Houston for a few months before returning to Chicago. And, since coming back, they have been active in the community and have not been difficult to spot.
From Cubs games to children's hospital visits, Owens dove right back into the city and community. Since his arrival in Chicago, he and his wife have been embraced by the fans.
Owens has also been a valuable part of this organization, whether it be on special teams or as a reserve on defense. He is the ultimate veteran who simply does what is asked of him.
He will not blow you away with eye-popping plays on a weekly basis, although he comes up big when it matters.
And, again, he does his job well when called upon. Last season, he ranked fourth out of 171 safeties when it came to run defense, per Pro Football Focus. The Bears are going to need a player of his caliber when facing the likes of Josh Jacobs, David Montgomery, Jahmyr Gibbs, Aaron Jones in the coming year -- and beyond.
Owens is the perfect example of a player you want to keep around for the long haul. After being more of a journeyman to begin his career, Owens seems to have found a home in Chicago. He's a phenomenal locker room presence and team-first guy who, by all accounts, is a man of high character.
From what we know about Ben Johnson, that's the type of player he'd like to keep around for the long haul.