Ravens could still create elite safety trio without Geno Stone by signing Bears cut

The Baltimore Ravens have one of the finest safeties in the league in former first-round pick Kyle Hamilton. The blend of the ultra-versatile dynamo in Hamilton, the seventh-round turnover machine in Geno Stone, and rangy veteran Marcus Williams made Mike Macdonald's defense one of the best the league had to offer.

However, with Stone entering free agency with an eye on cashing in. Fresh off intercepting seven passes, the most in the AFC, in his age-24 season, the former Iowa star could be eyeing a contract that exceeds the price range of a Ravens team that needs to pay studs like Justin Madubuike and Kevin Zeitler.

Baltimore would do well to replace him with a veteran who can cover ground and help keep up Stone's turnover-generating ways. The Chicago Bears may have done just that, as they parted ways with veteran safety Eddie Jackson in the name of saving a few extra bucks.

Jackson is not going to be a transformative player, as he seemed to be just a tick slower in 2023 and hasn't always stayed healthy. However, if he doesn't get banged up, the Ravens could take a flier on a veteran with some repute that could keep their secondary as elite as ever in 2024 and beyond.

The Baltimore Ravens could sign Eddie Jackson if Geno Stone leaves.

The Ravens primarily played three safeties last year, and all of them moved around between a deep role, playing in the box, and at slot cornerback. While Jackson has considerably less versatility than both of them, he still has more than enough range to be an effective starter in the league.

Jackson recorded five interceptions with 11 pass breakups in his last two seasons under Matt Eberflus in Chicago. After picking three secondary players in the first two rounds of the NFL Draft during the last two years, the Bears have prepared for this day. While he took a step back in 2023, his 2022 season was almost Pro Bowl level.

His range, although his issues staying healthy, remains solid. Stone's best trait is his ability to cover ground.

Jackson has missed 13 games in the last three seasons, and his per-year salary might not be too far removed from what Stone would command. However, if the priority for the Baltimore defense is producing a quality facsimilie of what Macdonald did, Jackson can still cover ground while Hamilton and Williams vacillate all over the defensive backfield.