November 25, 2024

Is Eddie Jackson and Vic Fangio a good combination for the Eagles?

Arizona Cardinals v Chicago Bears

Now that the Super Bowl has concluded, the period of cap casualties has commenced. This also marks the onset of discussions like “Should the Eagles consider signing [any player I’m vaguely familiar with]?”.

Notably, the Chicago Bears took steps to reduce salary on Thursday by officially parting ways with veteran safety Eddie Jackson and offensive lineman Cody Whitehair.

Jackson, who celebrated his 30th birthday in December, appears to be a plausible option for the Eagles. The 2017 fourth-round pick was selected during the tenure of the new Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who was then the Bears’ DC. They spent two seasons together in Chicago before Fangio moved on to become the head coach of the Denver Broncos. (As an aside, Jackson also shared two years with Eagles assistant special teams coach Joe Pannunzio at Alabama.)

Under Fangio’s guidance, Jackson earned one of his two career Pro Bowl appearances and secured his only first-team All-Pro recognition. He had eight interceptions in his two years with Fangio, but managed only seven in the subsequent five seasons.

The question arises: Can a reunion with Fangio reignite Jackson’s success? Windy City Gridiron, in their assessment, suggests that the veteran safety still has some quality performances ahead:

Originally a fourth-round pick in 2017, Jackson swiftly became a starter and dynamic player in the Bears’ secondary. He started exactly 100 games for Chicago, amassing 15 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles, and six touchdowns.

Despite being a two-time Pro-Bowler and one-time first-team All-Pro, Jackson was an obvious cap casualty, saving the team over $12 million while incurring a dead cap hit of just $5.5 million, according to Spotrac.

While his performance hasn’t declined significantly, his ball production has not matched his earlier career, and his tackling, never a strong suit, does not align with what Matt Eberflus would prefer.

Jackson has struggled with poor tackling, exacerbated by his relatively undersized stature for his position. His missed tackle percentage reached a career high last year, according to Pro Football Reference.

However, acknowledging that no player is without flaws, the Eagles might be willing to accept Jackson’s shortcomings if they believe he can contribute positively under Fangio. Jackson has demonstrated playmaking abilities in the past.

The Eagles might have a potential need at safety, especially with the anticipated salary cap casualty of Kevin Byard. Cutting him would free up over $13 million in cap space, leaving just $1.386 million in dead money.

Bringing in Jackson could provide the Eagles with a dependable short-term starter alongside Reed Blankenship. Currently, the only other safety under contract for 2024 is Sydney Brown, who is recovering from an ACL injury that might persist into the next season.

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