The second contract is the ultimate motivation for many young NFL players. Bears players such as Roquan Smith, Tarik Cohen and Mitch Trubisky have acknowledged the significance of playing for that post-rookie deal.
So what does Eddie Jackson do now? The Bears safety signed a second contract and it was a whopper — a four-year, $58 million deal with $33 million guaranteed. It’s the largest per-year contract for a safety in NFL history.
Motivation will have to come from within now.
“Pay day or not, the thing has to stay the same,” Bears secondary coach Deshea Townsend said. “You just have to continue to make the skills that he has … stronger than his weaknesses. Make them even better.”
Bears general manager Ryan Pace has had his hits and misses in player acquisition, but has a much better batting average investing in known quantities. Defensive end Akiem Hicks (four years, $48 million), cornerback Kyle Fuller (4-$56 million) and nose tackle Eddie Goldman (4-$42 million) have flourished since getting big contracts.
Outside linebacker Khalil Mack (6-$141 million) was better than advertised in an All-Pro season after Pace made him the highest paid defensive player in NFL history in 2018. Left tackle Charles Leno (4-$37 million) made the Pro Bowl after getting paid, though he has something to prove in 2020 after a difficult 2019 season. Center Cody Whitehair (5-$51 million) had a subpar season while switching from center to guard and back to center in 2019 after signing a contract extension, but still is a foundation piece of the offense and a potential Pro Bowl player.
Jackson looks like a good bet to be at the high end of that list. He’s in his prime at 27 and playing behind an elite front seven that has been fortified with the addition of pass rusher Robert Quinn.
One big question is whether Jackson will get the opportunity to be the playmaker he was in his first two NFL seasons, when he scored five touchdowns. Jackson had two interceptions, one fumble recovery and no touchdowns in 2019, but still made the Pro Bowl.
“For Eddie, the thing for him is just continue to be a leader — continue to lead by example,” Townsend said. “And then just trust the game. Try not to get too frustrated when things aren’t happening his way.
“That’s the biggest thing for him — he is a playmaker and sometimes when teams know that they stay away from you. You can kind of get a little anxious and do things you shouldn’t do. Just continue to trust the process and know that those are the way that he will get better — not to try to force the game and let it come to him.”
Bears defensive coordinator Chuck Pagano compared Jackson’s challenge to that of Ed Reed, the Hall of Fame safety Pagano coached with the Ravens.
“There’s a lot of offensive coordinators and quarterback coaches … everybody that we’re gonna play who’s gonna say, “Hey, if he’s back there, if he’s in the post, don’t throw it anywhere inside the numbers,” Pagano said. “And if he’s in this half of the field, go to the other side. And if he’s over here, go over here.” That’s just part of the issue, too. A lot like Ed Reed, and he’s watched a lot of tape, Eddie has, and he’s gotta figure out ways to mess with quarterbacks and make them believe one thing and then flip the script on them.”
But Pagano acknowledged that’s part of his job as well.
“We all know he’s got rare instincts, he’s got rare anticipation and range and ball skills,” Pagano said. “I’ve gotta do a better job of making sure we accentuate those things and put him in position to make plays, because he’s a playmaker.”
