Chicago Bears Mock Draft 1.0: Bears grab “Key” to defensive dominance

The Chicago Bears get their pass rush some much-needed help with their first pick in the 2018 NFL Draft.

Now that the 2017 Chicago Bears are finished wasting our Sunday afternoons, we can start looking forward to what the 2018 Chicago Bears will do to turn things around.

The Bears currently own the eighth-overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft and need help at several positions. However, unless they acquire more picks via trade, they’ll only have one shot at the draft’s first-round talent.

Fortunately, the Bears can address arguably their biggest need, edge rusher, by selecting LSU’s Arden Key at #8.

Of course, some of this decision will depend upon what defense the Chicago Bears run next season under their new head coach: will they employ a 4-3 front, as they did in the Lovie Smith era, or stick with the primarily 3-4 defense of the past five seasons?

Assuming the Bears roll with a 3-4 for convenience sake—they have a few guys, like Leonard Floyd, best suited to a 3-4 defense—Key could be an outstanding fit in Chicago.

At 6’6”, 265 pounds, Key plays with more bulk and power than Floyd does. However, he still has burst, agility and the ability to bend the edge with his lanky frame. He also displays solid play recognition for the most part and plays with a good motor as well.

Also, LSU moved him around the defense frequently, rushing him from the inside and even playing him as a slot corner.

But don’t let that fool you: as an all-around pass-rusher, Key might be better than Floyd is right now.

Perhaps the biggest difference is that he plays with more violence at the point of attack than Floyd did as a rookie, especially in the way he uses his hands. Of course, he could stand to be more consistent in this aspect, but he should be somewhat less of a project than Floyd was coming out of Georgia.

More from Da Windy City

• Juan Soto appears headed to the Yankees which is not a big blow Chicago Cubs offseason
• 3 takeaways from Chicago Blackhawks shootout loss to Nashville
• Chicago Cubs in the middle of chaos that is Shohei Ohtani’s free agency
• The Chicago Cubs are on a roller coaster of emotions chasing Shohei Ohtani
• Chicago Bears quietly compiling list of head coaching candidates

Of course, Key’s junior season didn’t go completely as planned, which could affect his draft stock.

For one thing, his versatility sometimes worked against him in the statistics department. He often had to drop in coverage or handle zone read responsibilities rather than aggressively running upfield.

Also, injuries hampered Key’s availability, and therefore his production, significantly this season.

First, he missed the start of the season after offseason shoulder surgery. Then, he missed a few games with knee issues during the season, though he did return. Now, Key will miss today’s Citrus Bowl after having surgery on his finger.

As such, North Carolina State’s Bradley Chubb could get the jump on him as the top edge rusher prospect in the draft after his strong season. That, along with the mess of quarterback talent, could drop Key to the lower end of the top ten.

Next: Bears take edge rusher in Mock Draft 1.0

The Bears should be praying for that outcome.

A healthy Key brings top-five talent to the table, and when he played at 100% this season, he delivered. Plus, he might fit better with the Bears’ current personnel than Chubb, a bigger, hand-on-the-ground defensive end.

It could take some good luck, but Key could slip to the Chicago Bears at #8. Pairing him opposite Floyd would make the Bears’ pass rush a truly dominant one.