Chicago Bears 2017 mock draft: Full seven rounds

Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford (6-foot-3, 275 pounds)

Okay, so here is a “what if” scenario. What if Jonathan Allen’s medical report does not come out as planned? If his shoulder is not as healed from his earlier two surgeries?

If this does happen, I feel the Bears will still go with help on the defensive line. They really struggled against the run in 2016. They ranked 27th in rushing yards allowed, 25th in rushing touchdowns allowed, and 21st in yards per rushing attempt. Furthermore, they struggled with putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. With the quality of quarterbacks in the NFC North alone, pressure is something the Bears need to bring.

Thomas can help on both counts. In 2016, the All-American and PAC-12 Defensive Player of the Year recorded a team-high 62 tackles. Of those, 15 were tackles for loss, and he added 8 sacks. In the Sun Bowl, he had an impressive stat line (7 tackles, 2 for loss and a sack), but it seemed like every time Stanford had a big play on defense, Thomas was in the middle of it.

Thomas has a Ferrari motor when he’s on the field. He goes all-out all the time . He has a good, strong body, and has the ability to beat blockers with either power or speed. His hands are strong, and he uses them at an NFL-level already. He uses a variety of moves to get into the backfield making him unpredictable and keeping blockers off-balanced.

While Thomas is a little undersized, his technique, quickness, and athleticism make up for all that. In fact, because of his height, he is able to get great leverage.

Thomas also has the maturity to handle the rigors and change of life the NFL brings. He was a highly recruited high school star, and many of the top programs pursued him, but he chose Stanford in part because of their high academic standards. He spent five years living in Australia, so he is worldly as well.

This is a draft filled with pretty good edge rushers, but Thomas’ play and ability stand out. Being able to play all along the line gives the Bears much flexibility and instantly improves the line.