Chicago Bears: 5 solidified positions going into 2018 NFL Draft

Safety

Whatever you heard about the Bears’ safeties just one short year ago — forget it. The pair of starters is downright solidified with Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson. Both are perfect examples of Pace going deep into the NFL Draft and coming away with studs.

Some Bears fans wanted to talk down about Amos, particularly prior to last season, because he appeared to have a down year after bursting onto the scene as a rookie. Amos came out of the gates two years ago as a fifth-round pick looking to prove a point.

Known for his aggressive style of play and monster hits, Amos wasted no time showing just how hard he can hit. For Bears fans, this was a pleasant sight to see. The defense long lacked that style of play — I’d argue for nearly a decade. In 2016, Amos fell out of the good graces of the fans and coaches a little bit. But, in 2017, he snatched his starting role back and isn’t going to give it up anytime soon.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Bears have the second-best safety in all of football. I’ll take it.

Jackson, meanwhile, was coming off his last season with Alabama having suffered a broken leg. His draft stock dipped, fortunately for the Bears, and Pace stole him away in the fourth round. Jackson impressed enough in camp to earn a starting role and never looked back.

Jackson has a knack for the big play, and wowed the football world with not one, but two of them on the one-year anniversary of his broken leg. This so happened to be a road contest against the eventual playoff-bound Carolina Panthers. You could argue Jackson single-handedly won the game for the Bears, and he’d probably hand the credit off elsewhere because that’s the kind of guy he is.

Now, you’re looking at fourth and fifth round picks in the starting safety spots — and they’re going to stay there for a long time, barring injuries.

Those saying the Bears should draft Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James with the no. 8 pick are out of their minds. If I’m Pace, and either of those are a thought, I’d immediately trade back if no one else is there who he is high on at the eighth pick. Jackson and Amos belong right where they are at.