Bargains available at key spot for Dennis Allen's Bears defense
![Dennis Allen's scheme requires some player with specific skill sets and might require the Bears to add at one position. Dennis Allen's scheme requires some player with specific skill sets and might require the Bears to add at one position.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2690,h_1513,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/bear_digest/01jjpyvcjn24mhm2b8aa.jpg)
Bears GM Ryan Poles seemed unconcerned about personnel type for the new defensive scheme relevant to personnel prior to the hiring of defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
His contention was the Bears had plenty of players who can switch between 3-4 and 4-3, adding, "...a lot of our guys have the flexibility to do that."
The scheme Dennis Allen brings to the team is 4-3 so no switching required, and it does rely on a lot of cover-2 defense like the Bears have played.
A Nola story on Allen's scheme written a year after he had implemented it gives a good description of what he's been trying to reveal and another paints it as a morphing style of defense, one where the front can even use two-gap on occasion instead of single-gap.
However, it's still possible they'll need personnel tweaks to implement it.
One position not mentioned often as a draft or free agency need very well could be. It's going to require a thoughtful and honest assessment of their talent on hand.
Dennis Allen: Top 10 scoring defense 4 of his last 5 seasons
— Jordan Anderson (@j_anderson97) January 27, 2025
Ben Johnson: Top 5 scoring offense each of the last 3 seasons
Quite a combo leading the #Bears pic.twitter.com/V9oZpBdNPn
That position is safety.
In an assessment of the schemes Allen used, Tribune beat columnist Brad Biggs described Allen's use of safeties as a real key as he relies "...heavily on having interchangeable safeties to key late movement and disguise in the secondary."
Either safety can be the one going into the box or be fast enough to move just before the snap into a coverage. It's complicated and immediate help might be better from a veteran than a rookie, especially with Jaquan Brisker already well-versed, healthier now and planning to move ahead with his career.
The Saints' Dennis Allen utilized a Quarters (Poach) Safety on the back side of their 2-Man vs. the Cowboys.
— Cody Alexander (@The_Coach_A) September 18, 2024
It helps disguise the coverage, too.
Looks like Cover 1 pre-snap.
-- pic.twitter.com/r2YCTwAygM
The Bears tried to do this some with their scheme under Matt Eberflus and Eric Washington but not to the extent the Saints did it under Allen.
The interchangeable safeties is critical because of their need to disguise coverages under Allen.
With Kevin Byard turning 32 for this season and Brisker coming off his third concussion in three seasons, it's safe to wonder whether the Bears have the safety personnel to implement a scheme placing so much emphasis physically on safeties to be in position and to handle plays. Having an extra effective veteran on hand can't hurt.
Last time Dennis Allen was a DC he was ranked the #1 play caller in the league. Is aggressive and has great success on 3rd down - the anti-flus pic.twitter.com/kUSESXofSU
— Matt (@HendyBears) January 27, 2025
There are more than three safeties on the Bears roster, with Elijah Hicks and Jonathan Owens being the best backups, but there's a reason they were backups. The Bears ranked sixth against the pass when Brisker suffered his concussion and they wound up ranked as low as 23rd before finishing 16th.
Drafting a safety is always possible but the reality is they have far more pressing needs along the line of scrimmage.
There are safeties available in free agency as well. In fact, it's a good year in free agency to have a need because Pro Football Focus' top 100 free agents is top heavy with safeties. Their list now includes their salary projections and there are 11 on the list who look like bargains based on PFF projections. There are others who will command deals somewhat like the one the Bears gave Eddie Jackson in 2019 for $58.4 million.
Miami's Jevon Holland, Minnesota's Camryn Bynum (3 years, $47.7 million), Kansas City's Justin Reid (3 years, $46.5 million) and the Raiders' Tre'Von Moehrig (four years, $60 million) all are projected at deals in this range per annual average value and a team with greater needs would be looking to spend cash more wisely.
The list included a few mis-fits for the Bears' system like 35-year-old Vikings safety Harrison Smith and classic strong safety Jeremy Chinn.
Here are those potential bargain fits with projections putting them in a range for the Bears.
Interesting coverage concept by Dennis Allen #saints vs. the #Bucs and #tombrady Brady. They play cover 4 to the tight end side and man with safety help to the split end side. Play action doesn't full Demario Davis.
— coachkou (@coachkou) June 19, 2023
The coverage is good and forces the check down. pic.twitter.com/oxY7ohiosx
1. Talao Hufanga, 49ers
An effective player when healthy but he only played seven games last year with wrist and knee injuries. The wrist was enough of an issue that he needed surgery. PFF calls him the 23rd best free agent but projects him at only $12.5 million a year for two years. It would be a bargain for a safety graded second among free agents available at the position after seven interceptions over the 2022-23 season.
Nick Bosa with the pressure and Talanoa Hufanga with the interception!pic.twitter.com/4hOU04rmUC
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 12, 2023
2. Justin Simmons, Falcons
Going into his 10th year and a little younger than Byard, he could be the real steal for a few years at this position if PFF is right because they project him at a $6 million deal for one year. He has even more career interceptions (32) than Byard (29).
NFL Draft Coverage:
— John Frascella (Football) (@NFLFrascella) January 24, 2025
I think the Safety position is going to be devalued in the 2025 NFL Draft because this is the most STACKED Safety Free Agent year I’ve ever seen:
✅Harrison Smith
✅Cam Bynum
✅Tyrann Mathieu
✅Jevon Holland
✅Justin Reid
✅Justin Simmons
✅Xavier Woods… pic.twitter.com/OnHihLjnoc
3. Elijah Molden, Chargers
The problem with Molden is he suffered a broken leg in the season's next-to-last game and it might be why PFF has him projected for a one-year, $4.5 million deal. While a broken leg might limit offseason work it shouldn't be an issue by training camp. Molden's PFF description as a jack of all trades who can easily disguise intent sounds like a perfect fit for the Allen system and he was graded 15th among safeties by PFF last year before his injury.
the play gets stuffed, but how can you not love Liam Coen
— Josh Norris (@JoshNorris) December 16, 2024
Tight field. 13 personnel shifts out into quads left
4 vs 4, asking Bucky Irving to make his defender miss 1 on 1. Elijah Molden makes a good tackle pic.twitter.com/Li9UWspbNP
4. Andre Cisco, Jaguars
He picked off Caleb Williams in London, the last interception the Bears QB threw before starting his record-setting streak of throws without an interception. Projected at $9 million per year as he starts his second contract, Cisco was ascending until last year's struggles but that could be said of numerous other Jacksonville players.
¡¡CALEB WILLIAMS INTERCEPTION, ANDRE CISCO WITH THE PICK!!#Jaguars 3-7 #Bears
— NFL Football Report (@NFL_Crazy_) October 13, 2024
pic.twitter.com/b44SxWlUfb
5. Julian Blackmon, Colts
Blackmon had been more of a pure deep safety at one time but looked more effective playing the kind of role Allen's defense would require. He graded top 40 in the last two seasons and is projected at three years and $21 million.
#Colts S Julian Blackmon —
— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) July 25, 2021
Attack open daylight on the pressure. Track the hip of the ball carrier. Make the play for a TFL. @NFLMatchup #NFL pic.twitter.com/abg9h9QHOc
More Chicago Bears News
A Jaquan Brisker extension conversation needs to start sooner than later
— Nic Roti (@ChicagoNic) October 2, 2024
In 34 career games:
-244 TOT, 159 solo
-12 PD, 9 in ‘23
-11 TFL
-8 QB hits
-3 INT
-3 FF
-2 FR
Guy is legit pic.twitter.com/XYoLKvPca0
X: BearsOnSI