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Chicago Bears: Quintin Demps and Prince Amukamara Bring Much-Needed Stability to Secondary

By Dan Schmelzer

Dec 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) makes an interception in front of Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 18, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans strong safety Quintin Demps (27) makes an interception in front of Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Allen Robinson (15) during the fourth quarter at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chicago Bears free agent additions Quintin Demps and Prince Amukamara both bring much-needed stability to the team’s secondary.

The Chicago Bears were heavily connected to the top-level defensive backs in free agency this off season. It make sense, the Bears have arguably the worst collection of players at safety and cornerback in the entire NFL.

While showing interest in elite-level players like Stephon Gilmore, A.J. Bouye and Tony Jefferson, the Bears were not able to reel any of them in. Instead, they went under-the-radar, picking up a couple of interesting veteran defensive backs who were being under-valued.

First, the Bears signed veteran safety Quintin Demps to a three-year, $13.5 million deal. Demps is coming off of two extremely successful seasons with the Houston Texans. He is a bit of a journeyman, but Demps has really taken his game to the next level in recent years.

Demps is no longer just a player who can play in the box and defend the run, he is an impressive coverage safety who shows great ball-hawking skills. He can make an impact as the deep safety in the Bears secondary. Demps had six interceptions for the Texans last season. The Chicago Bears as a team only had eight interceptions on the season.

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Having a guy like Demps on the back-end will undoubtedly help the Bears’ secondary.

On top of landing Demps, the Bears also brought in cornerback Prince Amukamara in on a one-year deal. The $7 million, fully guaranteed contract will give Amukamara an opportunity to prove himself before heading back on the open market next off season.

Amukamara is not a shutdown number one cornerback on the outside, but he is a talented guy who shows great natural coverage ability. Amukamara is a solid number two cornerback who will play a major role for the Bears in 2017.

The Chicago Bears would be wise to make more additions to their secondary in the 2017 NFL Draft. However, adding Amukamara and Demps at least gives them a chance back there. A starting safety duo of Demps and Adrian Amos is solid, if not spectacular. The same could be said for a starting cornerback duo of Amukamara and Tracy Porter.

These moves are not going to be game changers in the long run, but they do give the Bears a chance to compete right now. The Chicago Bears have an extremely talented defensive front seven. If the secondary can even be average, their defense is going to be dangerous.

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Additions like Demps and Amukamara at least get them to that average point. Not bad when you consider what the Chicago Bears had in the secondary last year.

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