Chicago Bears: Malik Jackson Should Top Free Agent Wishlist
The Chicago Bears are in a position to make some noise in free agency this off season. Defensive lineman Malik Jackson is a perfect fit and should top their free agent wishlist.
The Chicago Bears should be able to make some serious improvements to their roster this off season. They are not only set up to succeed in the 2016 NFL Draft, the Bears should have plenty of cap space to play with in free agency. According to Spotrac.com, the Bears hold the fifth-most cap space this off season with over $56 million available to spend on free agents.
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With all of that cap space, the Bears can make strong and much-needed improvements to their overall roster. Brining back wide receiver Alshon Jeffery needs to be on the top of the Bears’ off season to-do list, but they should still have plenty of cap space to chase the top-tier free agents in this class.
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The most obvious areas for improvement on the Bears’ roster come on the defensive side of the ball. Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense will succeed in Chicago with the right pieces, but the Bears’ front office simply must get Fangio better players to fit his system. They started that process last off season, most notably with the addition of free agent OLB Pernell McPhee, but there is still plenty of work to do.
Defensive line, inside and outside linebackers, and in the secondary, the Bears have many obvious holes that need addressing. Luckily, there are plenty of interesting 3-4 defensive players set to hit the open market who could come in and help them tremendously.
Super Bowl MVP Von Miller will obviously be on the Bears’ radar, but the Denver Broncos will undoubtedly do everything in their power to bring him back. Guys like Baltimore Ravens OLB Courtney Upshaw and Broncos ILB Danny Trevathan should also be under consideration for the Bears, but it is another Broncos’ free agent who needs to be at the top of their off season wishlist.
Defensive lineman Malik Jackson really turned a corner this season, starting as a five-technique defensive end for the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos. Jackson was a fifth round selection for the Broncos in the 2012 NFL Draft when Bears’ head coach John Fox was in charge in Denver. Fox drafted and coached Jackson for the first three years of his career, so the familiarity should certainly be there.
Jackson really burst onto the scene in 2015, his first year as a full-time starter. He showed an impressive combination of raw power and athleticism that allowed him to make consistent plays against the run and rush the passer. Jackson’s 5.5 sacks in 2015 were not the most impressive total, but he was able to hurry the passer on a consistent basis.
Jackson may not light up the stat sheet as a pass rusher, but he does an incredible job of squeezing the pocket and making life uncomfortable for the quarterback. Plus his obvious strength and quickness allows him to make plays in the backfield against the run. Jackson is not only a solid five-tech defensive end, but he has legitimate play-making ability.
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Jackson is an incredibly talented defender who fills an obvious need in the Bears’ defense. They have the cap space to make a significant move or two, and at only 26-years-old, Jackson could step in and become a serious building block on the Bears’ defense.
Significant changes are needed for the Chicago Bears on the defensive side of the ball, and adding Jackson is only one move, but it could be an extremely significant one.