Chicago Bears land elite pass rusher in recent 2018 NFL mock draft
The Chicago Bears snag a big-time pass rush prospect in a recent 2018 NFL Mock Draft.
The Chicago Bears have done a nice job of adding young, impact talent through the draft in recent years. General manager Ryan Pace and company landed a haul in the 2015 NFL Draft led by first-round edge rusher Chicago Bears have done a nice job of adding young, impact talent through the draft in recent years. General manager Ryan Pace and company landed a haul in the 2015 NFL Draft led by first-round edge rusher Leonard Floyd, second-round center Cody Whitehair and fifth-round running back Jordan Howard. Floyd, Whitehair and Howard all had incredible rookie seasons, and the Bears hope that Mitch Trubisky and the 2017 rookies can follow suit.
While the Bears are starting to put together a nice collection of young talent, they are not expected to be competitive in 2017. It is a long season and anything can happen, but the Chicago Bears will likely be drafting in the top ten again in the 2018 NFL Draft.
Mock draft selection
While having losses pile up like that is never fun, adding another premium first-round pick to the mix would be great for the long-term health of the franchise. In a recent mock draft by Jared Dubin of CBS Sports, the Bears hold the fifth overall selection and take big-time edge rusher Arden Key. Here is what Dubin had to say about the selection of Key:
"The Bears picked their quarterback of the future in 2017. When next year rolls around, they grab a top pass-rusher to pair with Leonard Floyd on the outside, giving the bears a dynamic duo on which to build their defense."
Key is an incredibly athletic edge rusher who has an exciting mix of skills. He is listed at 6-foot-6, 238 pounds which gives him ideal length for the position. Key uses his long arms extremely well, showing a powerful punch and the ability to keep opposing offensive lineman off of him.
More from Chicago Bears
- Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates
- Next Chicago Bears starting quarterback makes Bowl Game decision
- Chicago Bears appear in the hunt while on track for the first pick
- Chicago Bears: They are who we thought they were
- Chicago Bears Rumors: Kevin Warren to oversee football operations
The LSU product shows elite burst off of the edge. He has an incredibly quick first step that allows him to get an immediate edge of the opposing offensive lineman. Key shows an advanced repertoire of pass rushing moves that he allows to take over from there. He is a crafty pass rusher who has the ideal set of skills on the outside. Simply put, Key is an elite-level edge rusher who has massive upside at the next level.
A dynamic duo
In today’s NFL where the passing game is king, the only thing more important than having a strong pass rush is having a franchise quarterback. The Chicago Bears hope that they have found their franchise quarterback when they took Trubisky with the second overall pick this offseason. They already have the exciting Floyd rushing the passer from one side. If they can add a guy like Key to the other, the Bears’ defense would have massive long-term upside.
Obviously, it is difficult to predict the 2018 NFL Draft this far out. That being said, if the Bears pick in the top five again, an elite defensive prospect like Key will likely be the target. Quarterbacks expect to rule the top of the first round with USC’s Sam Darnold, UCLA’s Josh Rosen and Wyoming’s Josh Allen all expected to be premier prospects. However, with Trubisky in the fold, the Bears will not have any interest in the top-tier quarterbacks.
Next: Predicting first-time Pro Bowl selections for Bears
Simply put, if they can land an elite defensive prospect like Key, the Chicago Bears will undoubtedly be heading down the right path. With that much impact talent at the most important positions, the Bears could be ready to compete at a high level soon.