This year's crop of free agents boasts an ultra-impressive group of safeties. In fact, it might be the most stacked free agent class of all time.
The group is saturated with a healthy combination of established veterans (including seven former Pro Bowlers) and young players hitting the market at the right time. There are even a handful of talented young players looking for a fresh start following a slightly disappointing start to their careers.
The class not only features solid depth across the board, but it also has a great variety in terms of the type of player available. There are just as many starting-quality center fielders as those who make their living near the line of scrimmage.
Ryan Poles and Co. have done a remarkable job turning the Chicago Bears' defense around since the regime change two years ago. However, they are still a few players away from fielding a complete unit. Their most glaring hole is at the free safety spot, as the team moved on from seven-year starter Eddie Jackson last month.
Their secondary could cement itself as one of the league's best if they can lock in a solid starter opposite Jaquan Brisker. We saw what Eddie Jackson did at the height of his powers with Adrian Amos on the other side of him, and a similar situation could work wonders on Brisker.
With a less-than-stellar crop of prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft (and the Bears' lack of draft capital), it makes much more sense for the team to target the position through free agency. That being said, a few options stand out from the crowd for Chicago.
Justin Simmons would provide veteran leadership to a young secondary
In an offseason full of unexpected departures at the safety position, the Broncos' decision to release Justin Simmons might be the most surprising. The 30-year-old is still playing at a near-elite level, and he has three second-team All-Pro selections in each of the last three seasons to show for it.
The eight-year pro has shown a knack for making splash plays throughout his career, and he has never nabbed less than two interceptions in a season. He has also eclipsed three interceptions every year since 2018. Simply put, he's an elite playmaker whose ball production consistency has been unmatched.
On top of playing at a high level on the field, the veteran center fielder is also one of the best guys to have in the locker room across the entire league. I am usually an advocate for signing younger players at positions where the importance of speed and quickness get magnified, but Simmons is the rare exception to that rule. He may now be on the wrong side of 30, but he still has plenty to offer a young secondary that has added three new starters in the past two years.
Simmons, who just missed the Broncos Super Bowl run in 2015, will probably be looking for a team that can contend for a Super Bowl in his next stop. There is a significant amount of hype (and hope) around the Bears this offseason with the first overall pick in tow, and it could be a perfect pairing if the veteran believes in the vision.
One thing for sure is that he is one of the biggest fish in this year's free agent class. Chicago may have to pay up for his services, but he would be worth every penny if they do.
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.
The Bears could kill two birds with one stone by signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson
Are you noticing a theme? While Stone is coming off a breakout season, C.J. Gardner-Johnson is only one year removed from one, as he tied for the league lead with six interceptions in 2022. Unfortunately for Gardner-Johnson (and potentially fortunately for Chicago), he couldn't build on the impressive season after signing with Detroit last offseason, as he became sidelined with a torn pectoral muscle for much of the year.
Gardner-Johnson may have only played in a handful of games for the Lions, but he still made his presence felt whenever he was on the field. The 26-year-old nabbed an interception in the regular season finale against the Vikings (his first game back from injury) and picked off another pass in their Divisional Round victory over Tampa Bay. Two interceptions in five games. I'd say it's safe to say he picked up right where he left off from the year prior.
If CJGJ had played the full season (and fit in with Dan Campbell's culture), I have little doubt that he would have played well enough to be a re-sign candidate (at the very least) in Detroit. As it stands right now, it looks like he will be on his way out, which is good news for the entire NFC North.
Gardner-Johnson may be annoying, but you cannot deny the fact that the guy can play, and his versatility stands out even in a stacked safety market. Unlike Stone, there are no questions about his ability to play the run, and he can also play in the slot. While Kyler Gordon has that position locked down for the foreseeable future, having two viable options there would allow them to get creative with their defensive looks.
Oh, I also have to mention that having Gardner-Johnson and Brisker (both known trash-talkers) patrol the back end of the defense would be nothing short of hilarious. We all saw what Javon Wims did to CJGJ in the Bears' 2020 Wild Card round matchup against the Saints. 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalties can be fruitful for a defense looking to get off the field. Chess. Not checkers.