The Chicago Bears will look to see improved play from their safeties with upgrades arrived.
Safety was among many of the Chicago Bears’ problems on defense, and they addressed this need in the draft by trading up in the fourth round for Brock Vereen. They also signed Ryan Mundy to a two-year, $3 million contract.
Those two are expected to be the Bears’ starters. While they are not particularly threatening, they are still major upgrades over Major Wright and Chris Conte. Conte was constantly burned in coverage, and he became a scapegoat for the Bears’ defensive woes.
This was further validated when Conte allowed Aaron Rodgers to throw a 48-yard game-winning touchdown pass to knock the Bears out of the playoffs.
Wright also struggled greatly in coverage, so he was let go in free agency before he was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Mundy provides a reliable veteran presence who will be able to mentor Vereen, which he was able to receive under Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark in Pittsburgh.
Craig Steltz and Danny McCray are both on the bubble for the Bears, and they both offer experience as special teams contributors.
Also in the mix are veterans Adrian Wilson and M.D. Jennings. Wilson is no longer the Pro Bowl-caliber safety he was in Arizona, but he may still be able to contribute and may be a steal.
Jennings will not likely make the roster though since he performed atrociously with the Green Bay Packers, and the new additions are sure to force him off the roster.
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