Eddie Jackson's arrival in Baltimore provides great depth for a talented Ravens secondary and places the veteran safety on a perennial contender.
It's why on Monday the former All-Pro called it a "perfect fit" while speaking to the media for the first time as a Raven.
"It just felt like a perfect fit," Jackson told reporters. "Just knowing what they have in this building, the tradition of things. It's a perfect fit for me to come in and compete and do what I got to do to help the team get better and hopefully win a Super Bowl."
Baltimore is a perfect fit in more ways than one for Jackson. The 30-year-old has close relationships with several of his new Ravens teammates, including quarterback Lamar Jackson, who he lived near and played youth football with in Lauderdale Lakes, Fla., as well as running back Derrick Henry and cornerback Marlon Humphrey, former college teammates of Eddie Jackson at Alabama where they all won a national championship in 2015.
But perhaps the most impactful relationship of them all is with the ringleader of the Ravens' vaunted defense, Roquan Smith, who Jackson played with for a majority of his seven-year tenure with the Bears.
"Man, it's fun. I played with Ro for five years," Jackson said. "Just knowing his mentality, him going out there flying around, making plays, wanting to put everything on his shoulder, wanting everyone to follow him and kind of mirror him and how he plays the game, it's something special. To be back with him and be reunited is cool."
With Smith leading the Bears defense, Jackson enjoyed his best season to date in 2018. The ball-hawking safety produced six interceptions, 15 pass-breakups, two forced fumbles and a sack while scoring three defensive touchdowns (two INTs, one fumble recovery), which resulted in Jackson's only All-Pro honor.
Jackson followed up that career year with another Pro Bowl trip in 2019, but would get lost the next few seasons on a Bears team undergoing a rebuild. He'd return to form in 2022, but foot injuries marred each of the past two campaigns. Jackson was released by Chicago as part of its current roster-turning offseason.
Where Jackson fits on a Ravens secondary that features Kyle Hamilton and Marcus Williams remains to be seen. During his second training camp practice on Monday, Jackson has already flashed his play-making capabilities by scoring on a pick-six, according to the team.
Baltimore has long been a place for defensive veterans to thrive once again. Jackson hopes to be the next one as the Ravens look to get over the hump in 2024.
"The roster, the record and what these guys have been able to do these last few years -- even last year, how close they came," he said. "I'm just coming in, trying to be that missing piece on the back end of that defense and doing whatever I can to contribute and help us eventually accomplish a Super Bowl.
