Former Chicago Bears Safety Joins New Team on Eve of Training Camp Report Date

After being released by the Chicago Bears in mid-February, seven-year veteran safety Eddie Jackson found a new home on Friday, agreeing to a deal with the Baltimore Ravens just a day before the start of training camp.

What can Eddie Jackson do for the Baltimore Ravens?

For the two-time Pro Bowl safety, the Ravens represent one of the better landing spots, as Jackson will complement a defensive back rotation that already features safeties Kyle Hamilton, Brandon Stephens, and Marcus Williams. However, the former Bear will not have to fight too hard for playing time, as the Ravens' defense will likely continue to utilize three safety looks.

In 2023, Ravens safety Geno Stone finished second in the league in interceptions before signing with the division-rival Cincinnati Bengals this summer. Jackson will help alleviate the loss of Stone in the secondary, but his role might be slightly different than Stone's from a season ago.

After last season, then-Ravens defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald accepted the Seattle Seahawks head coach vacancy, leaving Baltimore to elevate inside linebackers coach Zach Orr to the coordinator position.

Orr, who played with the Ravens from 2014 to 2016, has never called plays as an NFL coach and will do so for the first time this season. Jackson is just two years younger than Orr and has a strong database of NFL experience to call upon as a Raven. This certainly made the former Bear more valuable in the Ravens' eyes, as Jackson will help usher along some of the younger defensive players while providing a strong source of stability that can be hard to find on the free agency market.

Jackson's veteran presence will help the Ravens find success both on and off the field next season, but perhaps the most exciting aspect of this signing is Jackson's imminent reunion with fellow former Chicago Bears defensive star Roquan Smith. Smith joined Baltimore in October of 2022 and, in the time since, has become one of the dominant figures on the Raven's defensive unit. Jackson's on-field presence will likely be less than that of Smith's, but the veteran safety will still be able to play well off of and with his former teammate.

At the end of the day, the Chicago Bears, their fans, and their players should be excited to see Jackson earn this opportunity. A staple of the team's defense for the better part of a decade, Jackson exploded onto the scene as a Bear and was at one point playing like the best free safety in the league.

Between getting older, various injuries, and several changes to the defensive scheme, Jackson's time in Chicago came to an expected end this offseason. However, there is no doubt that he can contribute significantly to a high-end defense, and a reunion with Smith could help Jackson bring more life to a productive secondary and a young defensive core.