Should Matt Eberflus bring in this former Colts' All-pro player?
The Chicago Bears are a little weak at the cornerback position at the moment. This is clearly an area that Ryan Poles will try to work on during the off-season.
I believe that Jaylon Johnson is a great player. He could certainly develop into a #1 corner in my mind or, at the very least, a great #2. Last years' rookie Thomas Graham jr. was also a great surprise. When his name was called in the latter half of the regular season, he answered beautifully. He will definitely be in the mix for a starting spot next in 2022.
The Bears will still want to bring in a couple of proven players in the defensive back room. I think Xavier Rhodes is a great fit. He has a lot of experience, and he knows Matt Eberflus' system very well already. Even though he is 32 years old, he has not shown signs of regression to this point. He would not be signed to a long-term contract anyway.
Rhodes had some amazing years in Minnesota with the Vikings. In fact, he made the first-team all-pro squad in 2017. He then struggled a lot before leaving for the Colts. It was exactly what he needed as he completely revived his career. His Pro Football Focus grade was 79 in 2020 and 62 in 2021. Those are very respectable numbers.
In conclusion, I truly feel like this would be a good move for Ryan Poles and the risk is very low since they would not need to sign him for more than a year or two.
