Dane Cruikshank should be a late-round target for Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears need all the help on defense they can get. With plenty of early picks, a late round target should be Arizona cornerback Dane Cruikshank.

Some of you may be asking who is Dane Cruikshank?

Well, Cruikshank is arguably one of the best defensive players that has ever suited up for the Arizona Wildcats football team. After starting his career at Citrus College (Try not to laugh), he transferred to the Wildcats for his final two seasons of eligibility. Under Rich Rodriguez and crew, Cruikshank would transform himself from an undersized safety to an outstanding cornerback that helped lead Arizona to a 7-6 record.

On Sunday, Cruikshank revealed that he had been invited to the 2018 NFL Combine.

https://twitter.com/Dane2Smoove/status/947666975861248000

With an opportunity to shine in front of the biggest scouts in the world, Cruikshank could perform well enough to secure himself as a late-round draft target by plenty of teams.

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Why the Bears should draft Cruikshank

Heading into 2018, the Bears will need all the cornerbacks they can get. Kyle Fuller, Bryce Callahan, Prince Amukamara are all free agents headed into the offseason. Of those three Chicago would be wise to only re-sign Kyle Fuller. Still only 25 Fuller has plenty of prime years ahead of him, and with a defensive minded coach he could take the next step towards becoming a lockdown cornerback.

In drafting Cruikshank with a late-round pick Ryan Pace would be admitting that the team is in the midst of a long rebuild. Cruikshank would likely not be the starter, but if he provides the energy that he did in college he will find a home somewhere in the NFL.

In two seasons at Arizona, Cruikshank finished his career with five interceptions and 134 tackles. Facing the dreaded Pac-12 offenses will certainly help his standing with NFL scouts at the combine if all the cards fall right. He played with grit and passion that the Bears need more than any team in the NFL. Pair him with stud safeties Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson, and Chicago could have their own version of the no-fly zone.

Related Story: Pat Shurmur should be a top choice for the Bears

The 2018 draft should be a special one for the Chicago Bears, with the eighth pick the team should be able to draft a game-changer on defense depending on what the new coach deems more of a necessity.