The Ravens agreed in principle to a one-year contract with two-time Pro Bowl selection Eddie Jackson, giving Baltimore an elite safety trio.
The 30-year-old veteran spent his first seven seasons in Chicago and will be reunited with linebacker Roquan Smith, with whom he played for five years.
More importantly, Jackson teaming up with Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams gives the Ravens’ secondary three of the best patrolmen around. The Ravens already had the best safety duo in the league, but now there’s no question they have the best trio.
The Ravens Expressed confidence in Ardarius WashingtonThey add a more experienced safety who can play multiple roles and replaces Geno Stone, who led the AFC in interceptions last season before leaving for Cincinnati in free agency.
Jackson could take over Stone’s role in Baltimore’s defense, giving the NBA more flexibility in utilizing Hamilton and other defenders. Like Stone, Jackson has a nose for the football.
A former University of Alabama football champion, Jackson was named first-team All-Pro in 2018 and was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019. He was Pro Football Focus’ highest-rated safety in the league in 2018 and was fourth in the league with six interceptions and three touchdowns.
Jackson is considered one of the league’s best ball hunters with 15 career interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries, and his six defensive scores are tied with Marcus Peters for the most since entering the league in 2017.
After going two years without a pick, Jackson moved from strong safety to free safety after the Bears drafted Ja’Quan Brisker in 2022. That sparked a resurgence, with Jackson grabbing four interceptions, but his season ended with a Lisfranc foot injury that landed him on injured reserve.
Jackson returned early last season but was plagued by injuries and played in just 12 games that season. He recorded one interception (off former Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco) and 37 tackles.
Now that he’s come off a year removed from his foot injury, the hope is that Jackson can find his old form in Baltimore.
