The Chicago Bears have remained methodical in their approach to the free hand. GM Ryan Poles isn’t looking for the biggest names. He’s looking for a certain type of player. One that fits a specific profile that his front office has formulated. They appear to fit three key categories. They are on the younger side for veterans, usually 28 years old and under. They are known for playing with a chip on their shoulder and showing aggression in everything they do. Last but not least, they are cheap. Dane Cruikshank is the latest addition to match that profile.
Chicago signed the 26-year safety on Wednesday, March 30. Arriving from Arizona in 2018, he was selected in the 5th round by the Tennessee Titans. His reputation at the time was an athletic defender of size and speed. He also didn’t mind delivering hits. What he lacked was polish. Teams were unsure of his instincts or discipline. He was a project. The Titans were willing to take a risk.
congratulations to @gse_football client @Dane2Smoove when signing @ChicagoBears pic.twitter.com/Km2pc37kRD
— David Canter (@davidcanter) March 30, 2022
Dane Cruikshank will sign a one-year contract with a full guarantee of over $1 million per source. He’s part of a security group in Chicago with Eddie Jackson, who Matt Eberflus said will have a “fresh slate” in his defense, and DeAndre Houston-Carson, who re-signed last week.
— Courtney Cronin (@CourtneyRCronin) March 30, 2022
All in all, Cruikshank wasn’t a bad choice.
He quickly became a core member of their special teams. Over the past four seasons, he’s logged 413 snaps in kickoff and punt coverage. He has 18 tackles in that span. Solid work. The bears seem to have more help for the third phase, if nothing else. The obvious question is whether he has anything to offer on defense. Maybe. It felt like 2020 should have been his year of ascension. However, injuries got in the way.
After missing the first five games, he came back with a bang by nabbing his first interception. A groin problem then surfaced, and after trying to fight his way through, he returned to injured reserve. He finally got a chance to play in 2021, starting four games and filling in as a rotation safety. When taking cover, he had a respectable passer rating of 86.6 and made 43 tackles.
It’s been a while since we had any real physical presence in secondary school. #Titans‘ Dane Cruikshank showed his powerful style of play against the Colts on several occasions. pic.twitter.com/6kAwxM4IqP
— Wes on Broadway (@TitansDraftTape) September 28, 2021
Dane Cruikshank said no no no not today! 👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/N0C7JB4XtZ
— Bear Nation (@BearsNationCHI) March 30, 2022
The trickery! 👀
fake. Punt. TD.
Kevin Byard with the throw at Dane Cruikshank for a 66-yard score. pic.twitter.com/tZKFDExxmb
— (@sportnews) September 16, 2018
Bears also acknowledge an overlooked value from Dane Cruikshank
In a league that has become more specialized over the years, smart coaches understand that having players who are only good at certain things isn’t a bad thing. Sure, it would be nice to have someone who can do everything. The problem is that these players are rare. The best thing you can do is find multiple options that can do the most important things well. One of the most underrated aspects of Cruikshank’s game is his ability to handle tight games. Tennessee benefited from that throughout 2021, especially against the likes of Travis Kelce and George Kittle.
This skill is more coveted than ever as the NFL continues to push the era of pass-catching tight ends. Dane Cruikshank has the size, athleticism and physicality necessary to keep up with these guys. For all their talent, the Bears’ defense has struggled with tight ends quite often in recent years. With the likes of Kittle, Hunter Henry, Kyle Pitts, Dawson Knox, and Dallas Goedert on their roster in 2022, that commitment makes a lot of sense.
It’s not a flashy signature, it’s a calculated one.
That’s what the bears are doing for now. Their overall plan should have more focus after next month’s NFL draft. There are still pressing needs in defensive tackle, linebacker and cornerback. So it wouldn’t be a surprise if they didn’t address safety until the later rounds. If any. That means Cruikshank may have a real shot at starting this season.
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