Geno Stone would bring an elite playmaking element to the Bears secondary
I know some readers are probably saying, 'Who?' A lot of people have probably never heard of Geno Stone, but he will be introducing himself to a new fanbase in a big way next week when he signs a significant contract on the open market.
Stone is the perfect example of a player who got hot at the right time. The 24-year-old is coming off a breakout season in which he finished second in the league with seven interceptions. It was his first chance to really show what he could do, as he played over 900 snaps for Baltimore (92%) after playing less than half of their defensive snaps in 2022 and only a quarter of them the year before that.
On top of showing signs of being a ball magnet, Stone was also rock-solid in coverage last year. He allowed only .3 yards per coverage snap, and Pro Football Focus gave him a coverage grade of 84.9.
The one knock on Stone is that he was inconsistent (and, at times, bad) against the run last season. However, expecting him to be a finished product after only one season of full-time action is simply unrealistic. I expect him to improve in that department with more experience. Also, while Stone being a liability in that regard would certainly be a negative development, the fact that he wouldn't have to play in the box opposite Brisker would make Chicago a great fit for both parties.
The fact that Stone has already gotten cut twice (he had a short stint with Houston before returning to Baltimore) makes his breakout season all the more impressive. He has already proven to have a winner's mentality that will be important when fans call for his head after missing a tackle in the open field (R.I.P. Eddie Jackson). All jokes aside, Stone would be a great addition to the defense, and considering how many big-name safeties are looking for new homes, they might even be able to get him for cheaper than they otherwise would for a player of his caliber.