CHICAGO — The Bears launched veteran security Eddie Jackson and guard Cody Whitehair, the group introduced Thursday.
Whitehair and Jackson, who had been drafted by Chicago’s earlier entrance workplace, had been the Bears’ longest-tenured gamers on their respective sides of the ball. The strikes save Chicago an estimated $21.5 million towards the 2024 wage cap.
Upon the releases of Whitehair and Jackson, the Bears now not have any draft picks made earlier than 2020 on the roster.
Whitehair later posted his because of the Bears group and followers on his social media pages.
— Cody Whitehair (@WhItehair76) February 15, 2024
Whitehair, 31, was drafted by Chicago within the second spherical in 2016 and appeared in 124 video games over eight seasons with 118 begins. The versatile inside lineman performed his first three NFL seasons at middle earlier than splitting begins at left guard 2019-20. Whitehair moved to protect full time for the 2021-22 seasons and was slated to maneuver again to middle in 2023 earlier than an harm to Teven Jenkins shuffled Whitehair again to left guard for the primary 5 weeks.
As soon as he moved again to middle in Week 6, Whitehair was benched after a number of errant snaps and concluded the 2023 season with 11 begins. This was the primary season wherein he didn’t begin each recreation he performed.
Jackson, a fourth-round choice in 2017, began all 100 video games he appeared in over seven seasons with Chicago. He was a two-time Professional Bowl choice and earned All-Professional honors in 2018 on the Bears protection that carried Chicago to its final NFC North championship. A foot harm shortened every of the security’s previous three seasons, and his $18.1 million cap hit was the third-highest on the Bears roster.
Jackson, 30, totaled 15 interceptions, 44 passes defended, 10 pressured fumbles and 459 tackles in his profession. He’s tied for third in franchise historical past with six profession defensive touchdowns, 5 of which got here in his first two seasons.
After a two-season drought with out an interception (2020-21), Jackson moved from sturdy security again to free security after Chicago drafted Jaquan Brisker in 2022. Throughout his bounce-back season in 2022, Jackson led the Bears with 4 interceptions in 12 video games and have become a defensive chief after Chicago traded linebacker Roquan Smith and defensive finish Robert Quinn.
Final season, Jackson had an interception and 37 tackles in 12 video games.
“I do know [Jackson was] dinged up a little bit bit there, however I believed the place his affect is absolutely with Brisker and the communication on the again finish,” common supervisor Ryan Poles mentioned when requested to guage Jackson’s 2023 season. “When Eddie was in, you possibly can inform Brisker felt actually, actually snug. Actually that entire group, he actually impacts the communication, and you possibly can see that.”
