The Chicago Bears haven’t made any notable roster changes since undrafted free agency ended last month. Since then, general manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have spent time evaluating their players and seeing how things are looking. There is a lot to get excited about. The revamped supporting cast of Justin Fields, headlined by DJ Moore, looks strong. The new linebacking corps, led by Tremaine Edmunds, lives up to early expectations. It looks like the roster is much deeper and more talented than it was last season.
That said, it’s not perfect. There are still areas of the depth chart that raise some questions. Most will point to Edge Rusher as the greatest. It’s true. However, one position that is not talked about enough is security. Jaquan Brisker seems to be an excellent starter. Eddie Jackson made another Pro Bowl, but is coming off a Lisfranc foot injury. If that wasn’t iffy enough, the team also has uncertainty with its reserve spots. DeAndre Houston-Carson is gone. That leaves Elijah Hicks and rookie Kendall Williamson as the most likely options.
A dangerous life with Jackson’s health status still uncertain. That’s why the Bears should consider adding veteran help, and a name out there feels like an obvious target.
The Chicago Bears would love John Johnson.
While he was never a star of the show during his stints in Los Angeles and Cleveland, he has been a steady and reliable player for several years. He has 12 career interceptions for him, 41 passes defensed and 512 tackles in 86 career games for him. He is still only 27 years old, which makes it quite surprising that no one has booked him yet. If that continues through July, the Bears should definitely approach him for a trade. He not only has experience but he is versatile. He can play both free safety and hard safety without much trouble.
Johnson may not be enthusiastic about coming off the bench behind Jackson and Brisker. On the other hand, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams is a security specialist. He knows how to use that position better than most. If anyone can pull off a three-man rotation, it’s him. If anything, that would give the team some versatility to keep playing the run well, even in nickel coverages. This type of move could solidify that the Bears’ secondary has one of the deepest in the league.
