Chicago Bears: 5 Free Agents The Chicago Bears Need To Target
By Kyle Edmond
Chicago Bears Free Agent Target #4: Xavier Rhodes, CB
Some might forget that we are only a few years removed from Xavier Rhodes being in the 2019 Pro Bowl. Rhodes will be a bit older at 32 when the 2022 season rolls around, but he could provide key veteran leadership to this young team and help install the culture that Matt Eberflus wants in Chicago.
Eberflus was the defensive coordinator that brought Rhodes to Indianapolis in 2020 and he could look to reunite with the once lockdown corner. Additionally, the Bears finished 30th in the NFL this past season for passes defended and 29th for interceptions. Rhodes could help improve those numbers.
While Rhodes doesn’t tally the amount of interceptions he once did earlier in his career, he still has a knack for knocking down the ball. Over his two seasons in Indy, Rhodes tallied 19 passes defended. Now, this next stat is a younger version of Rhodes, but over his first five NFL seasons Rhodes had double-digit passes defended each year, totaling 60 over that five-year stretch. Even so, his 12 passes defended in 2020 was the second-most of his career.
In fact, the team that Rhodes has played the best against his entire career is Chicago. Against the Bears, Rhodes has two career interceptions, tied for the most against any team, as well as 13 passes defended. Those 13 are three more than his second-most, 10 against the Detroit Lions, and he doesn’t have more than six against any other team. There’s just something about Chicago that just makes him play better.
Rhodes could also be rather affordable. His last deal with Indianapolis was for just under $5 million, which could be a reasonable price for the veteran. What he would provide in leadership and knowledge of the Eberflus system would be well worth that type of money.