The Chicago Bears said goodbye Thursday to two of their longest-tenured veterans, releasing offensive lineman Cody Whitehair and safety Eddie Jackson, the team announced Thursday. Both players were drafted by the Bears and have spent their entire careers in Chicago.

The moves reportedly saved the Bears — who have the No. 1 pick in this year’s draft — $21.71 million against the 2024 salary cap. The Bears now have $67 million in available cap space, third-most in the league, according to Over the Cap. Jackson, 30, came to the Bears in 2017 as a fourth-round pick out of Alabama. All 100 appearances over seven seasons were starts, and he racked up 459 tackles, 15 interceptions, 10 forced fumbles and six fumble recoveries. Named first-team All-Pro in 2018 and to the Pro Bowl in 2018 and 2019, Jackson’s six defensive touchdowns tied him with Lance Briggs for third in Bears history, behind only Charles Tillman (nine) and Mike Brown (seven).

A foot injury ended Jackson’s 2022 season in Week 12 and limited him to 12 games in 2023, when he notched 37 tackles, one interception and five pass breakups. Whitehair, 31, was drafted out of Kansas State in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.

He played both center and guard in 124 games (118 starts) over eight seasons with the Bears. Whitehair was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018, when the Bears finished 12-4 on the way to the NFC North title. The moves make long-snapper Patrick Scales, who joined the team in 2015, the longest-tenured Bear. –Field Level Media