Ask anybody about the Chicago Bears roster as it is a simple question. Who among the list of names is the most likely to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame? Odds are the vast majority of those people will say Khalil Mack. It’s an easy and obvious choice. The man isn’t even 30 yet and has already reached five Pro Bowls with 61.5 sacks. Three or four more of his typically productive years and he’s pretty much a lock to hit Canton.
However, he might not be alone. Bill Barnwell of ESPN went across the NFL assessing all 32 teams and pinpointing players who have the best odds to reach the Hall of Fame. He deemed Mack as “Likely” with a minimum 70% chance of getting in. That wasn’t the only bit of positivity regarding the Bears though.
Barwell feels one of his defensive teammates has also set themselves up for a run at the gold jacket. That being safety Eddie Jackson.
“In the running (40% to 69%): S Eddie Jackson. A starter from day one, Jackson was a first-team All-Pro while leading the league in interceptions in 2018. Jackson and teammate Kyle Fuller both slipped last season, but each earned Pro Bowl nods, and that’s going to matter more to voters 15 years from now than how either player actually performed in 2019. The reason Jackson is in this section and Fuller is in the next group is that Jackson has made two Pro Bowls in three seasons while Fuller has two across six years.”
Khalil Mack can help Eddie Jackson get there
Jackson is off to a tremendous start. He has 10 interceptions in his first three seasons along with five defensive touchdowns. At his current pace, he’ll end up with around 33 interceptions and 16 defensive TDs by his 10th season. Definitely Hall of Fame-worthy. Those have a chance to be even better if the front seven plays up to their potential this season. Mack being teamed with a healthy Akiem Hicks and new addition Robert Quinn has a chance to produce a pass rush this organization hasn’t seen since the 1980s.
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More heat on the quarterbacks means more erratic and off-target throws. More off-target throws mean more chances for Jackson to do what he does best. Pick them off. He didn’t get a lot of chances last season because the pass rush was banged up much of the year. Here’s hoping that isn’t the case this time. Jackson certainly can’t wait to get on the field.