Chicago Bears. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
With Eddie Jackson locked down on a long-term deal, the Chicago Bears needed to address the strong safety position, and they may of just done so…
According to multiple reports, safety Deon Bush will return to the Chicago Bears following the conclusion of his rookie contract after Chicago selected Bush in the fourth-round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Since joining the Bears, Bush has played in 54 total games, including eight starts and has accumulated 44 combined tackles, three pass deflections, one forced fumble and one quarterback hit.
Though those numbers might not jump off the page at you, Bush has quietly become a core special teamer for the Bears. For instance, during the 2019 NFL season, Bush amassed 58 total defensive snaps, but totaled an additional 263 snaps on special teams.
So, what’s the details of Bush’s new contract? It looks like Bush has re-signed to the Bears on a one-year deal worth approximately $1.4 million. In general terms, that may seem like a bit much for a player who has been primarily a core special teams player. However, I truly believe that Deon Bush may be looked at as a viable option to start opposite Eddie Jackson.
If you missed it, former Bears safety, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix signed a one-year deal to join Mike McCarthy and the Dallas Cowboys. While, Clinton-Dix was a very reliable defensive back for the Bears last season, one could argue that he mirrored too much of a resemblance to his Alabama counterpart.
Rumblings coming out of Halas Hall are that Bears Defensive Coordinator, Chuck Pagano would prefer to play a hard hitting, box-safety next to the coverage focused, Eddie Jackson. Say someone that fits the mold of an Adrian Amos type?
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While there are still bigger name free agents out on the open market (i.e. Tony Jefferson, Eric Reid, etc.), I can see a scenario where the Bears give Deon Bush the first opportunity to earn the starting job.
I mean, even looking over past scouting reports of when Bush was coming out of Miami — it’s clear as day that Bush was sold as a prospect that could become that physical, hard hitting box-safety that the Bears might just be looking for…
On the other hand, it makes sense for the Bears to look for an inexpensive option across from Eddie Jackson, after making Jackson one of the highest paid safeties in the history of professional football.
In my opinion, I’d like to see the Bears add another safety in the later rounds of the draft and allow Bush to compete in an open-competition with the rookie for the strong safety starting job. However, who knows what’s going through Ryan Pace’s mind right now? For all we know, he could be looking to make a splash deal for a high-level safety…