http://chi.247sports.com/Bolt/Will-Bears-pursue-free-agent-safety-TJ-McDonald-51895464
Will Bears pursue free-agent safety T.J. McDonald?
A young, hard-hitting safety in T.J. McDonald is available if the Chicago Bears want to continue to upgrade their secondary.
Matt Eurich
T.J. McDonald is the best safety available on the free-agent market, so should the Chicago Bears be interested?
The team did add
Quintin Demps in free agency following a season in which he recorded a career-high six interceptions, but the Bears still need a lot of help at the position.
McDonald is coming off a season in which he recorded 64 tackles, one sack, six pass deflections and a career-high two interceptions in his fourth season with the now Los Angeles Rams. Despite a strong season, the former USC standout has not found much of a market this offseason.
One reason for that could be that he pleaded guilty to reckless driving involving drugs or alcohol following his arrest last May after he crashed into a parked car.
McDonald was sentenced to three years of probation and
NBC Sports' Josh Alper wrote the young safety will likely have to serve a two-game suspension in 2017.
If the Bears can look past his prior transgressions, McDonald would immediately help upgrade the team's secondary and offer up Chicago even more options in the draft.
A third-round pick of the Rams in 2013, the former All-American made 10 starts in his rookie season and ended the year with 53 tackles, one sack, four pass deflections and one interception. The following year he started all 16 games and notched a career high in tackles (105) and sacks (2). He also batted down six passes and recorded one interception.
McDonald saw action in just 11 games in 2015 before he was placed on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. He finished the year with 63 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble.
The young safety is great up in the box against the run and has also proven to be effective as a blitzer. Coverage is not his strongest suit, but he was targeted 43 times in the passing game last year and allowed 25 receptions for 229 yards with two touchdowns, according to
Pro Football Focus.
After signing Demps, the need at safety for the Bears is not as pressing as it once was, but considering the poor play of the position last season, McDonald is at least worth taking a look at some point this offseason for Chicago.