Former Bears safety Eddie Jackson signs one-year deal with Baltimore Ravens

The Baltimore Ravens are adding an experienced defensive back to the roster ahead of training camp next week. According to NFL insider Adam Schefter, former Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson is signing a one-year deal with Baltimore for the 2024 season.

Jackson began his career by playing seven seasons for the Chicago Bears. The team drafted him in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft out of Alabama. He made the Pro Bowl twice in seven seasons, one in 2018 and one in 2019. He also earned first-team All-Pro recognition in 2018 under Matt Nagy and defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.

Despite his consistency for the Bears, Jackson hasn’t played a full season of games since the 2020 season. He played 14 in 2021, then 12 in each of the 2022 and 2023 seasons. He posted a career-low 37 tackles last season with one interception and 1.5 tackles for loss. In 2022, despite missing games, he tallied 80 tackles and four interceptions.

Through his first seven seasons in the league, Jackson has six touchdowns, including fumbles returned for scores and pick-sixes. He also has 15 career interceptions. His tackle tracker is up to 459 in regular-season games and he has another six tackles in postseason games.

After playing out his rookie contract with the Bears, Chicago signed Jackson to a four-year deal for $58.4 million. By cutting him in February, the team saved $12.56 million in cap space.

More on the 2024 NFL offseason, free agency

The NFL 2024 calendar year began at 4 p.m. ET on March 13. At that time, contracts running through 2023 officially ran out, making those players free agents. Prior to the beginning of free agency, teams had a chance to designate one franchise or transition tag player, starting on Feb. 20 at 4 p.m. ET and ending on March 5. Beginning March 11 through March 13 teams could enter into a legal negotiation with players who will become unrestricted free agents.

In addition to NFL free agency, the new year also marked the beginning of all trades being made official by the league office. April 19 marked the deadline to sign restricted free agents to offer sheets. On April 24, the deadline for teams to match restricted free agent offers sheets hit.