Bears finally get stability at safety, but not for long

If it seems like the Bears have been looking for stability at safety since Lovie Smith became head coach in 2004, it's because they have.

Between free safety and strong safety, there have been more than 40 changes in the starting lineup in Smith's tenure.

Last year there was more continuity at safety than at any time in the Smith era. Chris Harris started all 16 games at free safety and tied for the team lead with 5 interceptions while finishing fourth with 96 tackles. Danieal Manning started all 16 games at strong safety and finished fifth in tackles with 85.

But Manning, a five-year veteran, is expected to be an unrestricted free agent once the current labor dispute is settled. He did not accept the contract offer he received late last year from the Bears and will likely test the market.

The Bears drafted Major Wright in the third round last year with the idea of him eventually becoming a starter. That might have happened last season were it not for a hamstring injury that sidelined the former Florida Gator for four games.

Cornerback has seen much less turnover because Charles Tillman has been a starter for each of his eight seasons. He was moved from the presumably more difficult left side to the right last season, and matched Harris' team-best 5 picks, tied for the team lead with 3 forced fumbles, and was second with 11 pass breakups and third with 101 tackles.

Zackary Bowman began the season as the starter on the left side after a break-out season in 2009, but he fell from favor and was replaced in the third game by feisty 5-foot-8, 185-pound Tim Jennings.

Tillman isn't a shut-down corner, but he's big and plays with a toughness that makes him an asset against the run. Jennings lacks ideal size, but he played well enough to hold the job after he got his break.

There is depth at corner. Little D.J. Moore (5-9, 183) was a pleasant surprise at nickel last season, picking off 4 passes after barely touching the field as a rookie in 2009. But having Moore and Jennings on the field together hurts against opponents with big wide receivers. Special-teams standout Corey Graham (team-high 25 tackles last season) has started 10 games in the past and can play corner or safety, but the four-year veteran could be an unrestricted free agent.

Need: 5 (On a scale with 10 representing a dire need and 1 representing no need at all).