Chicago Bears release Eddie Jackson and Cody Whitehair

The Chicago Bears released safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair the team announced on Thursday afternoon.

The moves created approximately $21.5 million in savings against the salary cap, which now gives the Bears around $55 million in effective cap space, according to Pro Football Focus’ Brad Spielberger.

Jackson was drafted in the fourth round out of Alabama in 2017 and started 100 games through seven seasons in Chicago. He accumulated 459 total tackles, 44 passes defended, 15 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, six fumble recoveries and two sacks.

In 2018, Jackson had a MVP-caliber season when he finished with six interceptions, two forced fumbles, and 15 passes defended. Jackson also had three total touchdowns (two off interceptions and one fumble returned for a score). That season he was voted to the Pro Bowl and was a first-team All-Pro.

Jackson went on to make a second-consecutive Pro Bowl in 2019, but then had a two-year hiatus without an interception. He also dealt with some injuries from 2021 to 2023. Over the last three seasons, Jackson has missed 13 games. The turnovers also were not as consistent as the beginning of his career. He finished with five total interceptions in his last three seasons, and four of them occurred in 2022.

Whitehair did everything and anything he was asked throughout his eight-year career with the Bears. The former second-round pick out of Kansas State played 7,579 total offensive snaps and played 3,444 snaps at left guard, 3,927 at center and 208 snaps at right guard, according to Pro Football Focus.

The 6-foot-3, 316-pound versatile offensive lineman was elected to the Pro Bowl during the Bears’ 2018 season. Whitehair didn’t allow a single sack in his 1,075 snaps at center and allowed just 11 hurries.

From 2016-2021, Whitehair only missed two games and that was due to COVID-19 protocols. In 2022, however, Whitehair was forced to miss five games due to a knee injury. His play also regressed later in his career. In 2021, Whitehair allowed 24 hurries and four sacks, and in his final season with the Bears, the veteran offensive lineman gave up three sacks and 15 hurries.

What’s next for the Bears?

With Jackson and Whitehair gone, the Bears will need to look to add a starting safety opposite of Jaquan Brisker and replace the depth on the interior offensive line.

Former seventh-round draft pick and second-year player Elijah Hicks started six games for the Bears last season. He played 487 defensive snaps in addition to his 235 special teams snaps. According to PFF, Hicks was targeted 14 times and allowed 11 receptions for 160 yards and four touchdowns. Hicks also was credited for seven missed tackles.

If the Bears elect to draft a safety, they currently have six total picks in the 2024 NFL Draft. Three of those picks are in the top 100.

• First round: No. 1 and No. 9
• Third round: No. 75
• Fourth round: TBA, TBA
• Fifth round: TBA

In free agency, there are some notable names like Antoine Winfield from the Buccaneers, Kyle Dugger from the Patriots and Kamren Curl of the Commanders — which are all ranked in the top-25 of PFF’s free agent rankings.

When it comes to interior offensive lineman, the Bears will be in need of a new center. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson as his top-rated center. He would be a good fit for the Bears’ outside zone scheme.

As for free agency, Miami’s Connor Williams could be an option that would fit the Bears’ offense. It’s worth noting that the former second-round pick in 2018 is coming off a season-ending ACL injury that he sustained in Week 14.

Going into this offseason, it was likely that Jackson and Whitehair had both played their last games in a Bears uniform. Now, general manager Ryan Poles will have two more additional positions to fill in what is already a long-to-do list.

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