Rock Ya-Sin linked to Bears with Matt Eberflus connection |
When you look at this Bears roster, you immediately notice how much more improved it has gotten since the start of the NFL offseason. However, this team needs to make tons of improvements and plenty of holes they need to address heading into next season.
One of the areas that the Bears are set with is the secondary position. Not only are they young, with Kyler Gordon, Jaquon Brisker, and Jaylon Johnson the future of this team, but you still have Eddie Jackson coming off his best season since 2018 as the veteran in the back. Those four could give the Bears one of the best secondaries in the NFL, although you would never guess it based on the numbers they put up last season. To their credit, you can't entirely blame them, as the front seven was decimated after trades were made, which made things more challenging for the secondary. Not only did the Bears rank dead last in stopping the run, but when you register just 20 sacks and less than 40 QB pressures during the season, your secondary will get torched, which they often did. Even with a secondary that appears set for the next several seasons, don't expect the Bears to pack it in, as they will continue to look for roster improvements. One name that has started to pop up may come as a surprise, but there are a ton of connections to him and the Bears coaching staff, as Rock Ya-Sin has had his name linked to the Bears. Let's get one thing straight: Ya-Sin may have one of the coolest names in the NFL, and that sounds like a Bears name. Initially drafted by the Colts in the second round of the 2019 NFL draft, Ya-Sin chose to sign with the Raiders last season, where he became unhappy and disgruntled by the team's direction. The Colts is where the connection with the Bears pops up, as Matt Eberflus was his defensive doordinator for three seasons while Alan Williams was the secondary coach. They are familiar with Ya-Sin and how he plays and know what buttons to push to get the most out of him. Having him reunite with those two could be a significant steal for the Bears and will only make this young secondary younger and better. Ya-Sin is not only a free agent, but a free agent looking for a place to call home for more than one season. He is another guy who isn’t the strongest run defender, but he has improved in pass coverage each season he’s been in the league. He could step in, start immediately, and contribute in the secondary. Plus, he spent a few seasons with Matt Eberflus in Indianapolis, so he’s familiar with the scheme. The Bears could use a player familiar with the Eberflus system and ultimately stick him in a slot corner role to try and get him on the field as much as possible. Since coming into the league in 2019, Ya-Sin has seen plenty of action and has appeared in 52 games, with 38 coming as starts. Granted, he only has two interceptions which isn't ideal, but his overall pass-coverage skills have improved each season which is all you can ask for in a player. Take the lack of interceptions out of the mix for now, and this is a defender that has broken up 27 passes thus far and has forced two fumbles. Interceptions or not, his coverage skills always have him around the ball, which gives him the ability to make plays on the defensive side. Opposing quarterbacks completed less than 61% of their throws against Ya-Sin in 2022 for an average of six yards per target. That may seem like high marks, but compared to the rest of the NFL Ya-Sin ranks in the top third in those categories, that too is worth noting. Completions are one thing, but not allowing those completions to beat you is where Ya-Sin stands out, as he keeps the WR in front of him to prevent the big play. While the Bears have those four to count on, they also have Kindle Vildor on the roster, making a move for Ya-Sin seem less likely. However, this is one of the best CBs still on the open market and a top 20 free agent in terms of remaining targets. Throw in his familiarity with the Bears defensive scheme, given his days with Eberflus, and this could be a match made in heaven for a player that wants to bounce back in 2023.
