Super Bowl LIII didn’t have the excitement of recent years, but it still provided a valuable lesson for the Chicago Bears.
New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman was named MVP for his 10 catches and 141 yards, and the Los Angeles Rams didn’t have an answer for him.
According to Pro Football Focus, he caught passes against six different defenders in coverage, and 104 of his yards came against the Rams’ top three cornerbacks.
Los Angeles needed someone they could stick on Edelman who could keep up with him in one-on-one coverage, like Bryce Callahan.
Callahan led all slot cornerbacks with only 0.69 yards allowed per snap in coverage, according to PFF, and he’s slated to be an unrestricted free agent when the new league year starts in March.
In the Super Bowl, Edelman picked up 93 of his yards from the slot, while Jared Goff completed nine passes for 114 yards to slot receivers.
The slot cornerback position has become one of the most valuable positions on defense in the modern NFL, and Callahan was one of the league’s best in 2018.
The problem with him has always been his inability to stay healthy. He hasn’t played a full 16-game season in his four years in the NFL, making it through 13 in 2018 before breaking his foot.
It’s risky to invest a lucrative, long-term deal in a player with a substantial injury history, but if the Bears aren’t going to bring back Callahan, they need to learn from the Rams and lock down the slot cornerback position.
