5 reasons Bears can win the Super Bowl this year

Eddie Jackson

In 2017, there were a slew of excellent draft picks that deserve more mention than what they get. Perhaps none stand out more than Bears’ fourth-rounder Eddie Jackson.

A product of the much-heralded Alabama Crimson Tide, Jackson was an instant starter for a very good Bears’ defense and has never looked back. In fact, he has become one of the best safeties in all of football – notching two Pro Bowl and one First-Team All-Pro honor in the last two seasons.

Aided by playing cornerback for two years in college, Jackson has above average instincts that aide not only in pass coverage, but also in his ability to track the football in the backfield, and in moving up to help stop the run. Jackson is a complete player in the middle of the field for Chicago, very much in the Tyrann Mathieu mold that helped propel the Kansas City defense to the Lombardi a season ago.

And this season Jackson should be much improved, still. For starters, another year of experience, and now the unquestioned leader of the secondary should improve both his confidence and instincts. In addition, the team’s second-round selection of cornerback Jaylon Johnson should ease the coverage burden placed on Jackson, and allow him to patrol the field more freely, which should translate to more plays.

Finally, the offseason addition of veteran Tashaun Gipson, a former Pro Bowler in his own right, should also improve the safety room and give Gipson some veteran knowledge to help him continue to improve.

Jackson ascending to his full potential, near the top of the NFL safety rankings, can help Chicago win Super Bowl LV.