Chicago Bears Daily 2017 NFL Draft Prospect: Iowa Defensive Tackle Jaleel Johnson
Jaleel Johnson is an interesting defensive line prospect who the Chicago Bears should target in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Chicago Bears need to add multiple impact players in the 2017 NFL Draft. Their first round selection (third overall) is obviously important, but if the Bears are going to make a significant turnaround in 2017, they must hit on their other picks as well.
With that in mind, I want to take a look at some mid and late round prospects who the Bears could target. Today, we are checking on Iowa defensive lineman Jaleel Johnson.
Johnson was a steady and productive defensive lineman for the Hawkeyes, particularly standing out in his last two seasons. Johnson is a big and powerful man who will immediately be able to offer strong run support. However, Johnson also shows a strong burst that allowed him to make an impact as an interior pass rusher.
As a senior last season, Johnson finished with 7.5 sacks. Not bad for a defensive tackle whose game is built on power. Johnson is not the quickest or most athletic defensive lineman but he does have enough to create pressure at times.
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The interior pass rush upside is nice but Johnson will make his money as a run defender at the next level. He is incredibly difficult to move at the point of attack, even showing the necessary strength to consistently take on double teams.
Johnson is a strong run defender who will create plays for his teammates, but he also has the ability to make plays in the backfield himself. Johnson fires off of the snap with authority and will stuff the ball carrier before he gets to the line of scrimmage.
There is a lot to like about Johnson’s tape, but he did not test well at the combine. His 5.38 40-yard dash leaves plenty to be desired, as does his 28-inch vertical leap. However, neither of those are strong representations of Johnson as a player. That being said, the 19 bench press reps are concerning. Johnson was probably a second-round prospect prior to the combine. That is no longer the case.
Despite the ugly workout numbers, Johnson is a good, solid football player who is going to make an impact in the NFL for a long time. He would be a strong fit as a five-technique in the Chicago Bears defense and would be a quality backup nose guard to Eddie Goldman.
Next: Bears 7-Round 2017 NFL Mock Draft
The Bears should not let the combine numbers over-shadow the two strong years of production. Jaleel Johnson is a good football player who should be on their radar.