Another member of the veteran safety market has found a deal ahead of training camp. Eddie Jackson has agreed to a contract with the Ravens, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. 
To little surprise, Schefter adds this is a one-year agreement. Many veterans at all positions take short-term accords at this point in the offseason, but that has particularly been the expectation at the safety spot in 2024. Jackson had spent his entire seven-year career with the Bears, but he will now turn his attention to Baltimore as the next phase of his NFL tenure begins.
The 30-year-old has started each of his 101 regular season and playoff games, earning a number of accolades along the way. Jackson received first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 and he duplicated his Pro Bowl nod from that season during the following campaign. He has recorded multiple interceptions four times in his career, but his ball production has declined over time. The former fourth-rounder was named as a trade candidate ahead of the 2023 deadline, though no suitors emerged.
Jackson entered the 2024 offseason with one year remaining on his deal, and he was due $14.15MM in compensation. None of his base salary was guaranteed, though, and a message to Chicago sent in February suggested the Bears would move on. Days later, the team did indeed release the Alabama product. No reports had emerged in the following months connecting Jackson to any known suitors, but he will now spend the summer competing for a role in the Ravens’ secondary.
Baltimore still has Marcus Williams and Kyle Hamilton in place as starters, but the latter’s versatility was displayed last season when the team deployed three-safety looks. Geno Stone thus logged a notable workload, and his success earned him a deal from the Bengals in free agency. The Ravens added options to replace Stone during and after the draft, but Jackson represents a veteran presence capable of serving in a third safety capacity. His 87% defensive snap share in 2023 was the lowest of his career, and a 120.6 passer rating allowed illustrates his struggles in coverage.
Jackson will not be counted on as a full-time defender as long as Williams and Hamilton remain healthy. He could earn a part-time role in the secondary over the coming weeks, though, and in that event he could use the 2024 campaign to rebuild his free agent value to an extent as he joins a new team for the first time in his career.
Good Luck but he hasn’t been good for awhile now.
Getem Eddie
This seems like a good player for Baltimore, and Jackson is likely in the twilight of his career, but is there enough snaps to go around for the safeties there? The Ravens have the enviable issue of having four talented players at those spots, and you have to figure that Hamilton won’t be coming off the field. Williams probably will be on the field as an over the top safety, too, and Stone logged too many snaps to not be utilized. Jackson, again, may be on the back end of his career, but he has a lot of production to be a simple backup.
Stone is with the Bengals now. Jackson is his replacement
Thank you for the correction. I had forgotten. That answers my question.
Yes, “a lot of production to be a simple backup”. Plus he stays on the field. IE. durability. Nice pull by Ravens.
Actually, he has does have durability issues. He’ll likely not contribute on special teams either.
Ugh. Sounds like you r a Bears fan that’s seen plenty of Jackson in action. Did the Raven’s do good here?