Bears released a young cornerback before the draft
On Monday, the team announced that they have let go of Harrison Hand.
Last season, Hand mostly played on the Bears' practice squad, but he was promoted to the 53-man roster towards the end of the year. Hand took part in four games, starting one, and played 111 defensive snaps and 13 special teams snaps. He managed to make 12 tackles, defended one pass, and forced a fumble.
Hand was initially drafted by the Vikings in the fifth round of the 2020 draft and participated in 23 games across his first two seasons. He also briefly joined the Giants during their 2022 training camp. Hand's performances have been inconsistent, shining in Week 17 against the Detroit Lions with three tackles and a pass breakup but struggling a week later against the Vikings, allowing eight receptions for 80 yards on nine targets, despite forcing a fumble that the Bears recovered.
Although the Bears said goodbye to Hand, they secured the return of another cornerback for the 2023 offseason. Josh Blackwell, an undrafted rookie in 2022, aims to make the 53-man roster.
On March 8, the Bears tendered Blackwell as an exclusive rights free agent ahead of the new league year, and he officially signed on April 24. According to Over the Cap, Blackwell's deal will pay him a base salary of $870,000 for the 2023 season. The 24-year-old now has the chance to compete for a depth spot in training camp, especially since Hand's exit has slightly reduced his competition.
| POLL | ||
25 AVRIL | 117 ANSWERS Bears released a young cornerback before the draft Is cornerback still a position of need for the Bears? | ||
| Yes | 93 | 79.5 % |
| No | 24 | 20.5 % |
| List of polls | ||
