The Chicago Bears have elected to take a patient approach in free agency thus far. After a quick move to secure their interior pass rusher with Larry Ogunjobi, they’ve gone completely silent. GM Ryan Poles seems intent on seeing where the market goes. He has likely noticed how some notable players have recently been released—few more interesting than linebacker Myles Jack.
A former 2nd round pick in 2016, Jack overcame a gruesome injury in college to become one of the best outside linebackers in the league in 2017, helping the Jacksonville Jaguars reach the AFC championship. In three of the past four seasons now, he has finished with over 100 tackles. This was despite multiple scheme changes and shifting from outside to middle linebacker for two years. He is versatile, fast, and athletic. He’s also 26-years old. Now he is available.
After Monday’s spending spree, the Jaguars are releasing LB Myles Jack, per source.
Jack led the Jaguars in tackles last season with 108.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2022
The #Jaguars have just released LB Myles Jack.
Jack saves $8M against the cap and is still only 26 y/o.
Jack has registered over 100 tackles in three of his last four seasons in the #NFL.
He will be a quality OLB for a team who needs some athleticism. pic.twitter.com/FP7Fi7UxNA
— Brandon Carr (@bcarr_13) March 15, 2022
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Myles Jack wasn’t down. pic.twitter.com/eGQRUiNzGA
— BetMGM 🦁 (@BetMGM) March 15, 2022
This is the sort of signing that makes perfect sense.
The Bears need linebackers. Specifically, they need 4-3 linebackers. As of right now, Roquan Smith is the only true starter they have on the roster. Danny Trevathan will be cut at some point in the near future. Nobody else under contract fits the necessary profile. Jack does. His talent and experience are a perfect blend, and his speed would make an excellent fit in Matt Eberflus’ preferred style of swarming defense.
Best of all, signing him would not hurt the Bears’ hopes of securing compensatory draft compensation in 2023. Players released by their teams during the offseason don’t count against the formula. So Poles can pay him almost anything, and it wouldn’t affect Chicago’s comp plans. It is a shame Myles Jack never got the attention he deserved in Jacksonville. There is no question he would get proper recognition in Chicago. No city on earth appreciates linebacker play more. The price tag will be something to watch.
