2018 NFL Mock Draft: Chicago Bears take incredibly exciting defensive prospect
A way too early 2018 NFL Mock Draft by Matt Miller of Bleacher Report connects the Chicago Bears to one of the most exciting prospects in the upcoming draft class.
The 2017 NFL Draft just got over and 2018 NFL Mock Draft season is already here. Draft nuts like ourselves cannot get enough of mock drafts so it is never too early to put them together. At this point in the process, the mock drafts do not mean anything. Specifically connecting a player to a team is nothing more than a guessing game. That being said, it is still fun to look at the possibilities.
The 2018 draft class is expected to be loaded with quarterback talent. Sam Darnold, Josh Rosen and Josh Allen lead an impressive group of signal callers who will likely hear their names called early next April. Obviously, after making a big play for Mitch Trubisky last week, the Chicago Bears will not be in the quarterback mix.
However, unless they are surprisingly competitive in 2017, the Bears will likely have an opportunity to add another big-time talent to their roster. Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller is among those who has but together a “way too early” 2018 NFL Mock Draft and based on odds from Vegas, the Bears hold the fifth overall selection.
With the fifth pick, Miller gives the Bears one of the most exciting players in the upcoming draft class; Florida State defensive back Derwin James. Here is some of what Miller had to say about the pick.
"Derwin James might be the best player in the country next season, but as we just saw with Jamal Adams and as we saw the year before with former Seminole Jalen Ramsey, defensive backs are rarely drafted in the top few picks. Instead, teams like the Chicago Bears can get a massive playmaker with pick No. 5.James is a versatile safety, similar in many ways to Adams, and has the size and speed to be a ball hawk in the box or over the top of a defense. James did tear his MCL in Week 2 of the 2016 season, so there’s a possibility he’s not back to 100 percent this fall, but after taking a medical redshirt he does have three seasons of eligibility left. James isn’t a lock to enter the 2018 draft."
I am not a crazy person, so I have not done a ton of prep for the 2018 NFL Draft. However, the little that I have prepared for has allowed me to immediately fall for Derwin James. James missed most of the 2016 season with his knee injury but watching him as a freshman at Florida State was incredibly impressive.
This guy can do it all on the football field. He is a fast, strong and athletic safety who can defend against the run and the pass. James will dominate in the box and has the speed and range to play a strong center field. He is also a great man-to-man defender, showing the ability to take on big tight ends and outside receivers.
Florida State even lined James up as a true edge rusher at times. His ability to get after the quarterback as a defensive back is incredibly impressive. I am telling you, this guy can do it all and is going to be a star in the upcoming college football season.
Next: Chicago Bears: 2018 NFL Draft Targets
James is listed at 6-foot-3, 211 pounds and has freaky athleticism to go along with his ideal size. As Miller eluded to, even the best defensive backs have not been going in the tip-top of the first round. However, James is a complete difference maker who could buck that trend.
The Chicago Bears still have obvious needs in the secondary. If James declares for the 2018 draft and is on the clock whenever the Bears pick, passing on him would be foolish.