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Chicago Bears Daily 2017 NFL Draft Prospect: Ohio State CB Marshon Lattimore

By Dan Schmelzer

December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) celebrates with cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) after intercepting pass against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
December 31, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes safety Malik Hooker (24) celebrates with cornerback Marshon Lattimore (2) after intercepting pass against the Clemson Tigers during the first half of the the 2016 CFP semifinal at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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We continue to look at potential 2017 NFL Draft targets for the Chicago Bears with insight into Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

There are a group of three players who are commonly talked about for the Chicago Bears with the third overall pick. Defensive lineman Jonathan Allen is probably mentioned the most, followed closely by quarterbacks like Deshaun Watson, Mitch Trubisky and DeShone Kizer. Recently we have started to see more mentions of safeties Jamal Adams and Malik Hooker.

Related Story: 2017 NFL Draft: Late-Round Sleepers for the Bears

Defensive back is a huge need for the Chicago Bears, but it is not just safety. Their cornerback situation is arguably worse and will clearly be a high priority for the Bears this off season. Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore is an incredible prospect who is a sleeper for the Bears with the third overall pick.

Lattimore is an extremely talented prospect who shows elite-level skills across the board. He is fast, shows great instincts and explosive athletic ability. Lattimore shows fantastic natural man-to-man coverage skills and thrives both in press and off coverage. On top of all that, he show incredible natural ball skills. Simply put, Lattimore is a lock-down cornerback in the making.

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While cornerbacks rarely get taken as high as three, Lattimore could be an exception. Not only is he clearly a superior talent, the cornerback position has never been more valuable. The passing game is king in the NFL, having an elite-level cover corner is more important than ever before. I am not saying that Lattimore is an ideal selection for the Bears, but it would be a defensible selection.

Personally, I think a trade down from three is possible for the Chicago Bears. They have many holes across the roster and should entertain any trade down offers that come their way. If they move down and do not fall too far back, Lattimore will be a premium target for the team. If they can move down a few slots and still land a guy who made sense at three, it would be a huge win for Ryan Pace and company.

Next: NFL Free Agency: Specific Players Bears Should Target

The Chicago Bears have many choices with the third overall pick. I am not saying that Lattimore will be the best one, but do not discount him based on past drafts. He is an incredible talent who could single-handily fix one of the Bears biggest positions of need. They could certainly do worse than snagging a shut-down corner.

Check in tomorrow as we profile Western Michigan offensive lineman Taylor Moton, another possible 2017 NFL Draft target for the Chicago Bears.

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