Bears, Eddie Jackson agree to extension that makes him highest-paid safety in NFL
In three NFL seasons, Chicago Bears safety Eddie Jackson has started 46 games, been named to two Pro Bowls and was first-team All-Pro in 2018.
On Friday, he and the Bears agreed to a contract extension making him the highest-paid player at his position.
Four years, $58.4 million
SportsTrust Advisors, the agency that represents Jackson, tweeted out the financial details: the four-year deal is for $58.4 million, with $33 million (56.5 percent) fully guaranteed. His $14.6 million per year average is the new high mark for a safety.
The Tennessee Titans’ Kevin Byard signed an extension last July that averages $14.1 million per. Kansas CIty’s Tyrann Mathieu and Washington’s Landon Collins agreed to pacts that average $14.0 million per year.
Collins tweeted his congratulations to Jackson, as did teammates Kyle Long and Abdullah Anderson Jr.
Injury-prone label to star
Jackson becomes the first member of the 2017 draft class to agree to an extension.
Coming out of Alabama, there were questions of whether he was injury prone after Jackson tore an ACL and then needed surgery just before the draft to remove a screw that was causing pain.
Jackson was drafted 112th overall, with 12 safeties taken before he was chosen by the Bears. Of those 12, only the Jets’ Jamal Adams (this year) and Arizona’s Budda Baker (2017) have also been chosen first-team All-Pro and have multiple Pro Bowl nods.
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