As the NFL Scouting Combine begins this week, NFL Network Analyst Mike Mayock conducted a media conference call. One topic of discussion was the Chicago Bears picking 7th overall and transitioning to the 3-4 defense. There’s obviously a need for a solid edge rusher.
“I do believe you can get a good edge guy. The three main ones are (Florida DE/OLB Dante) Fowler, (Nebraska DE/OLB Randy) Gregory and (Missouri DE/OLB Shane) Ray, and they’re a little different. It depends what your flavor is. I think the best fit for a 3-4 is Dante Fowler, and I like him at 255 or 260 over those other two guys,” said Mayock.
“Now Gregory and Shane Ray are gifted, long, they’re going to get bigger and stronger. But the way I look at the 3-4 outside linebacker in order, No. 1, you have to be a great pass-rusher or have the ability to develop into one. Number two, you’ve got to set the physical edge.”
“Number three you have to be able to drop back into coverage, but that’s the least important of the three. Dante Fowler is the guy that checks off all three of those boxes.”
Mayock also compared Fowler to Justin Houston. Here’s what we have the Chicago Bears doing at #7 in our latest NFL mock draft. We did previously have them taking Alabama Safety Landon Collins, but safeties don’t and shouldn’t go that high typically.
This year the Chicago Bears are all about regime change. 2015 brings in a new head coach in John Fox and a new general manager in Ryan Pace. This leadership tandem is a fusion of new and old school.
“When you talk about Fox going forward, you’ve got to get that defense turned around, and he’s been the turnaround artist,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter said. “He’s turned around a team in Carolina, in Denver, and they’re counting on him doing the same in Chicago.”
Schefter, who was voted USA Today’s “best NFL insider” three years in a row, said his sources rave about Pace.
“They think [Pace] is a tremendous evaluator,” he said. “They think he’s been waiting and primed for this opportunity, and they believe he’s going to be a star in this role.”
Here’s more on the Chicago Bears offseason from Schefter.
Another option for the Chicago Bears is Washington DT Danny Shelton. If Pace and Fox don’t want to go edge rusher, but they prioritize DL, Shelton is a good choice.
Said Mayock: “Shelton is a top 10 pick to me. Reminds me of Haloti Ngata.”
Here’s more from Mike Mayock, in assessing the Chicago Bears draft. The idea of the Bears parting ways with Jay Cutler and drafting Marcus Mariota. The Heisman trophy winner has been labeled “not pro ready” enough by multiple experts and he could realistically fall to the Bears at #7.
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