The free agency cycle is expected to be one of the busiest in recent memory with the Chicago Bears armed with plenty of cap space and ready to add the pieces needed to contend for a division title in 2024.

According to OverTheCap, the Bears currently have $46.9 million in available cap space and could have even more if they move on from players with high cap hits.

One of those players expected to be let go due to a high cap concern is veteran safety Eddie Jackson. If the Bears were to move on from their former 4th-round pick, here are some of the top free agent names who could replace him.

Geno Stone

The Baltimore Ravens starting safety is entering into the open market at the perfect time to capitalize on a massive contract in free agency. The 24-year-old finished the season with a career-high seven interceptions that marked the second-most in the entire league trailing only Dallas Cowboys' cornerback DaRon Bland.

Stone also added 68 total tackles and nine pass deflections during the 2023 regular season under defensive coordinator and newly-hired Seattle Seahawks' head coach Mike Macdonald.

If the Bears want to spend big at the position in free agency, Stone is the one worth bidding for on the open market, but he's set to have plenty of suitors. According to our very own AtoZ Sports' cap experts, Stone is projected to land a 3 year, $25.5 million contract that will include $12 million in total guarantees. It's a fair price to pay for a player with Stone's age and production at the position.

Kyle Dugger

The former New England Patriots second round pick out of Lenior-Rhyne is going to be the most underrated free agent signing this offseason in my opinion. Despite being 27-years-old, Kyle Dugger is just now only going into his fifth season in the league and has years of productive football left in his career.

This past season, Dugger recorded two interceptions, seven pass deflections, 109 tackles and 1.5 sacks. He was all over the place on Bill Belichick's defense over the past four seasons and now will be looking for a new defensive specialist to work with. Dugger would be a perfect fit on the Bears defense led by head coach Matt Eberflus and defensive coordinator Eric Washington.

Our cap experts also project Dugger to land a much higher contract as a free agent compared to Stone, but the fit could be too good to pass up. He's projected to land a 3 year, $40.5 million deal with $25 million in guarantees. Would general manager Ryan Poles be willing to cough up such a high deal to solidify his secondary?

Jordan Fuller

The former Los Angeles Rams safety, Jordan Fuller, could be a solid long-term investment to the Bears' defense that fits in well with the rest of the young secondary. Fuller is set to enter free agency at 25-years-old after playing out his first four seasons with the Rams who selected him in the 6th round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Fuller could be a hidden gem at the position that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg while potentially paying off in a big way for whatever team looks to sign him. Our experts project Fuller to land a 2 year, $12.0 million deal on the open market.

Fuller finished his 2023 season with three interceptions, eight pass deflections, and 94 tackles which all set career-highs in his young career. It was exactly the bounce back year he needed after missing a lengthy period of time in 2022 with a hamstring injury. Now, he's ready to cash in with a new team in 2024.

Xavier McKinney

Xavier McKinney, New York Giants former second round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, is in desperate need of finding a new system willing to showcase his talents and he could find that in Chicago. The 24-year-old is one of the younger free agents at the position and could fill a major hole on the Bears' roster for years to come.

McKinney is incredibly talented as a deep safety with great coverage skills and pretty solid tackling abilities. In 2023, he finished his fourth career season by setting a career-high with 116 tackles and 11 pass deflections. He's also recorded 3+ interceptions in two of the last three seasons as well. 

McKinney's contact value is expected to land somewhere in the range of a 3 year, $34.95 million price tag according to our experts. It's a another high price to pay but you'll be betting on his age and overall talent to finally blossom into a premier defender deep in the secondary with his second team.

Eddie Jackson posts cryptic message amid uncertain future with the Chicago Bears

Is he on his way out of Chicago?