Kam Kinchens, an Eddie Jackson mentee, ready to take over for veteran if Bears call originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
INDIANAPOLIS — Bears general manager Ryan Poles has rebuilt Chicago’s secondary over the last two offseasons.
But after cutting veteran safety Eddie Jackson, Poles still has one more hole to fill in the back end. Finding a long-term answer at free safety is a new arrival on the Bears’ to-do list, but it’s an important one to check off as their rebuild enters its next phase.
“You’re looking for a guy that pairs well with [Jaquan Brisker],” Bears head coach Matt Eberflus said Tuesday at the NFL Scouting Combine. “Jaquan is a guy that’s a strong safety. He comes down on tight ends. He’s a big hammer. The guy that we would be looking for has to have athletic ability, he’s got to have range, he’s got to have great communication skills, he’s got to have ball skills. We want all of our guys to have the ability to take the ball away. He’s got to have that too. Then eventually grow into a leader. If it’s a free agent, he is gonna have to feel the temperature of the room and then dive into the leadership role. If he’s a rookie, then he’s gonna have to develop with the other guys.”
Jackson played an essential role in the Bears’ rebuild. He was one of the few veterans Poles chose to keep on when he arrived, and Jackson fully bought into Eberflus’ philosophy and resurrected his career in 2022. Jackson mentored Brisker and paired well with the 2022 second-round pick in the back end. Brisker’s physicality and desire to play down in the box freed Jackson up to roam in the back end and rely on his instincts and ball-hawk tendencies.
A foot injury zapped Jackson of some of his natural athleticism, and the Bears had to move on from this offseason to free up necessary cap space.
As the Bears look for a long-term replacement for Jackson, a young safety he has mentored might wind up filling his shoes.
Miami safety Kamren Kinchens.
Kinchens, a Miami native, knows…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/kam-kinchens-eddie-jackson-mentee-211622067.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-02-29 21:16:22
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