Chicago Bears Snag Impact Pass Rusher in Recent 2017 NFL Mock Draft
The Chicago Bears find an impact edge defender in a recent 2017 NFL Mock Draft.
With the third overall selection, the Chicago Bears are in a great position to land a real difference maker in the 2017 NFL Draft. Whether they decide to take one of the elite defensive prospect or a quarterback, the Bears are going to add a big-time football player to the mix.
Recent mock drafts mostly have the Bears taking LSU safety Jamal Adams with the third picks. Adams is an incredible player who has a ton of natural ability and upside for the next level. There are still plenty of mock drafts where we see the Bears landing Jonathan Allen or Marshon Lattimore, but Adams has been the most commonly connected player there in recent weeks.
However, there are obviously still many scenarios that could play out. Maurice Moton of Bleacher Report put together his mock draft on Monday and it has the Bears taking Stanford edge rusher Solomon Thomas with the third pick. Myles Garrett went number one to the Cleveland Browns, followed quickly by Adams to the San Francisco 49ers at number two.
Thomas is a quick and athletic edge rusher who shows an impressive array of overall skills. He played both inside and outside in college, showing the ability to get pressure from anywhere on the defensive line.
In the Bears’ 3-4 defense, Thomas would primarily be an edge rusher from the outside linebacker position. However, I could see him pushing inside as an interior pass rusher on obvious passing downs. Thomas is a strong player who can use his athleticism to his advantage on the inside, but you do not want him inside against the run. Thomas does not have enough raw power to hold up consistently against the run in the middle.
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His quick first step allows him to get an immediate advantage on the outside. Thomas is not a freak edge rusher but he does have impressive bend and athleticism that allows him to create consistent pressure from the outside.
All in all, Thomas is an extremely talented player who has massive upside at the next level. Pairing him with Leonard Floyd would give the Chicago Bears an exciting pass rush duo who they could build their defense around. Thomas could certainly be gone by the time the Bears pick, but if he is there, he would undoubtedly be a strong choice.