Chicago Bears draft comparison: Minkah Fitzpatrick or Derwin James?

The Case for Minkah Fitzpatrick

There’s a reason why you’ve been hearing Fitzpatrick’s name so frequently for the last two years and why he’s been discussed as a top-10 prospect, though his name has lost some luster.

He’s simply a really good football player.

In a league that demands more of its defensive backs than ever before, Fitzpatrick can do essentially anything you ask well.

He can play as a boundary corner or in the slot, which is where he sees himself playing on the pro level. He can patrol the deep middle of the field or play up in the box as a safety. And he can come up to make big tackles as well as track the ball in the air and nab interceptions.

The knock on him, of course, is that he doesn’t necessarily excel at any one of those tasks. He’s a good, not exceptional, athlete. And the fact that he said he might fit best as a slot corner might knock him down a few pegs to teams.

In particular, Pace does always seem to gravitate more toward great athletes early in the draft, so Fitzpatrick might not entirely fit his bill.

But when you take into account his versatility and advanced football knowledge, you have to admit the Chicago Bears could really use a player like that.

Plus, let’s not make Fitzpatrick out to be some unathletic scrub. That’s not the case at all.

And while he might not run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash (4.46 at the NFL Combine) or have go-go-Gadget arms, his athletic ability shows up more on the tape than in his testing.

Look at his closing speed when the ball is in the air, allowing him to make plays on throws he starts out nowhere near. And check out his ability to change direction with receivers and his physicality when arriving at the football.

Sure looks like a good athlete to me.

And because of his versatility, he could potentially push to start immediately at nickel corner while perhaps preparing to take over Adrian Amos‘ safety spot next season.

If Amos has another solid year, someone will likely overpay him for his average/above-average play. More than likely, though, that someone will not be Ryan Pace. And if Fitzpatrick is already in the fold, that’s a natural call. After all, he’s been playing safety for the better part of the last two seasons.

Furthermore, the Bears could reunite him with his old teammate Eddie Jackson on the back end. Imagine that: having two safeties that can do it all instead of having to constantly protect on from things he can’t do.

That’s what Vic Fangio likes from his safeties. And if Fitzpatrick ended up in that spot, as I expect he would, that’s what he would offer this team.