The Baltimore Ravens are bolstering their secondary by adding former Chicago Bears All-Pro safety, Eddie Jackson. Jackson has spent his entire seven-year career with the Bears but was released by the team in February.
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After a short stint in free agency, Jackson has now signed a one-year deal with the Ravens.
A Ravens-type move: Two-time Pro-Bowl safety Eddie Jackson reached agreement today with Baltimore on a one-year deal, per sources. A safety with six defensive TDs for the Bears now will bring his talents to Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/YEacDMkf9c
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) July 19, 2024
Jackson secured one interception, five passes defended, and 37 tackles in 2023.
Jackson was drafted by the Bears No.112 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft, after spending four seasons with Alabama.
Jason Miller/Getty Images
In Jackson’s rookie season, he secured two interceptions, one touchdown, six passes defended, one forced fumble, and 73 tackles. It didn’t take long for Jackson to emerge as a strong secondary player, as he would go on to secure All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in the 2018 season.
Jackson secured six interceptions, two touchdowns, 15 passes defended, two forced fumbles, and 51 tackles en route to his All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in 2018.
Jackson followed that up with another Pro Bowl nod in 2019. After the 2019 season, Jackson’s production slowed down the following two seasons. He would not secure an interception again until the 2022 season when he brought in four.
Jackson is still a strong veteran presence that will benefit the Ravens’ secondary. The team has cornerbacks, Marlon Humphrey and Brandon Stephens, along with safeties Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams.
Jackson will slot in presumably behind Humphrey, offering some much-needed veteran depth at the position.
The Ravens had a strong 2023 season, all but bullying every team they came across. However, despite their strong playoff run, they were bested by the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Chiefs are the reigning back-to-back Super Bowl champions and have one of the best offenses in the league. The one way to combat the high-flying throws from quarterback Patrick Mahomes is to employ a strong secondary.
The Ravens already have that, but adding a veteran like Jackson can take the unit to the next level. Jackson may not have had the strongest season of his career in 2023, but now he has a chance to rebound with defensive coordinator Zach Orr.
Orr served as the Ravens’ inside linebacker coach in 2023 but has since been promoted to run the defensive attack for the team. Orr began his coaching career with the Ravens as a defensive analyst between 2017 and 2020, before taking a job as the outside linebackers coach for the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2021.
Orr will now attempt to get the best out of Jackson and the defense to make an even deeper run in the playoffs.
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