Chicago Bears 2015 Draft: Top Linebacker Options
Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
One area the Chicago Bears may go in the draft is linebacker. While there are some players there who have promise, there are still a lot of questions there, especially when it appears long-time linebacker staple Lance Briggs won’t be back.
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The Chicago Bears defense was a mess. So much so that they will need to focus on that side of the ball through free agency AND the draft, and it will not be a quick fix.
One area that will receive some attention is linebacker. There are a lot of questions there. The Bears’ best linebacker last season was one who did not even finish the season, Lance Briggs.
According to ProFootballFocus.com (paid membership required), Briggs ranked 10th among the NFL outside linebackers. While he battled injury and focus, he graded out well.
On the other side, however, things did not go so well. Out of the forty linebackers that rated, Shea McClellin, the strong side linebacker, ranked 24th.
Chart courtesy of ProFootbalFocus.com
As you can see, McClellin did well against the run. He ranked seventh against the run. Against the pass, though, he had trouble. He ranked 34th in both pass rush and pass coverage.
With Briggs probably not returning, that leaves a huge hole. There will be a need for two outside linebackers. If McClellin is still on the roster, I see him as only a rotational player. He is not the answer for the Bears.
The new coaching staff and front office don’t have ties to him, so cutting free of McClellin is a path they may likely go.
Christian Jones appears on this list as an outside linebacker, but he played there because of injuries. Going on, Jones will move to his more natural position of inside linebacker.
Here are a few linebackers in this year’s draft who may fit with the Bears.
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