Chicago Bears: Free agent targets to address needs after NFL Draft
By Ryan Heckman
1. Safety Tony Jefferson
In the second round of this year’s draft, the Bears had a chance to select a couple of guys who would have become a Day 1 starter at safety. Whether you liked Antoine Winfield Jr. or Jeremy Chinn, Chicago’s defense had the opportunity to see one of them plugged right in.
However, that possibility never came to fruition. One reason why might be due to the fact that veteran Tony Jefferson is still available.
Jefferson has plenty of experience playing on a top-tier defense, coming from the Baltimore Ravens. Last year, though, his season was cut short due to injury and he missed 11 games.
Being more of a box safety, Jefferson would allow Eddie Jackson to stay where he’s most comfortable as the high safety. Jefferson is a sound tackler and a physical player who would excel within the Bears’ scheme and could take advantage of having such incredible talent around him.
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Right now, the starting spot appears up in the air between Deon Bush and newly-signed Jordan Lucas, a former Kansas City Chiefs reserve. If it’s down to those two, my money is on Bush, and I think the Bears are comfortable if they have to start him.
Jefferson would be an upgrade, though, and he’s had a little communication with Cordarrelle Patterson on Twitter this offseason — the Bears’ top in-house Twitter recruiter over the last month and a half.