NEWSLETTER
Eddie Jackson isn’t just the most most accomplished player from the Bears’ 2017 draft class. He is now the highest-paid member of the group – and the highest-paid safety in the league.
Here’s the announcement from his agency, which secured a massive extension for the two-time Pro Bowl safety:
https://twitter.com/_SportsTrust/status/1213142423850946566?s=20
As NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport reported, Jackson’s extension is a four-year pact that is worth up to $58.4 million. Included in the deal is $22 million fully guaranteed and $33 million in total guarantees. And at $14.6 million per year, it is the largest annual average at the position. And according to our friends at OverTheCap.com, Jackson’s deal matches Reshad Jones as the second largest guarantee for a safety in league history. Only fellow Alabama product Landon Collins ($44.5 million) has been given a bigger guarantee. Still … that’s a ton of money for Jackson, a fourth-round pick in the 2017 draft who was the 13th safety taken in his class – and quite a win for both Jackson and GM Ryan Pace.
News of an extension for Jackson isn’t a complete shocker. Back in April, NFL insiders began projecting that Jackson could be the league’s highest-paid safety once he became eligible to sign an extension. And in August, it was reported that the Bears had already informed Jackson they wanted to talk about a new deal as soon as they could. Seeing how quickly this deal was able to get done, the interest was *CLEARLY* mutual on both sides.
Jackson earned the extension by propelling himself to top of his position group. Three years into his pro career, Jackson has 10 interceptions, five defensive touchdowns, five forced fumbles, four recoveries, and has been a game-changer in the secondary. The only three games he has missed in his career came in 2018, when he missed the final two regular season games and the Bears’ postseason loss due to an injury he suffered at the end of Week 15. A durable safety who has been nothing short of excellent, Jackson has certainly earned this pay day.
What remains to be answered is if any other Bears extensions will follow.
