I was watching the NFL Network’s Free Agency Frenzy program and they had Washington’s Landon Collins talking about life with his new team. Then the show’s host smoothly pivoted to break some news, saying: “I know you were hoping to have one more of your former Alabama guys with you in Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, but i don’t know if i’m breaking news to you, but it sounds like he’s going to go to the Chicago Bears.”
Then I flipped to Twitter to see this:
The #Bears are signing S Ha Ha Clinton-Dix to a 1-year deal, sources tell me and @MikeGarafolo. Formerly of the #Redskins and #Packers, he gets a new home in Chicago.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 14, 2019
Talk about a well-timed news share.
It’s a one-year contract for Clinton-Dix, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. Essentially a “prove it” deal for Clinton-Dix to replace Adrian Amos as the starting safety opposite of All-Pro Eddie Jackson. Adding Clinton-Dix also softens the blow of losing a key cog in the defense to a division rival. Game on, cheesedoodles.
Clinton-Dix fills a hole in the lineup that would have otherwise gone to Deon Bush, who was the next-man-up on the safety depth chart. With the starting position going to Clinton-Dix, that leaves Bush in his role as a strong depth piece who can play at both spots if necessary. And while Bush could have held down the starting role for a short period of time, inserting Clinton-Dix atop the depth chart comes with a little extra something. Clinton-Dix was Pro Football Focus’ third-highest-graded safety through the first seven games of the NFL season before he was sent to Washington before the trade deadline. And while he didn’t maintain that level of play, he finished as PFF’s No. 17 safety and owned the site’s 13th best coverage grade among players at his position. Not bad!
Between Clinton-Dix and the addition of Buster Skrine as slot corner, the Bears have filled two needs in the secondary with experienced players who don’t have lengthy injury histories. Skrine has missed just five games in the last three years, while Clinton-Dix hasn’t missed a game at any point of his five-year career. Evidently, the Bears are valuing gameday availability as a priority in their signings.
UPDATE: Yo … this looks like a steal:
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix gets $3.5 million on his one-year deal from the #Bears, source says. He had more on the table elsewhere but it sounds like he wanted to join that Chicago defense and be reunited with his Alabama teammate Eddie Jackson.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 14, 2019