Chicago Bears: Joel Iyiegbuniwe future starter at ILB?
The Chicago Bears made a somewhat puzzling pick when they took Joel Iyeigbuniwe in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. But the tape reveals an intriguing, athletic player that could ascend into starting role next to Roquan Smith.
When the Chicago Bears took inside linebacker Roquan Smith with the eighth overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, fans were both ready and excited for it.
In Smith, Vic Fangio got his new Patrick Willis, a fast, aggressive, sideline-to-sideline monster with the ability to cover dynamic playmakers in today’s pass-happy NFL.
Though the Bears did need edge rushers, they deemed it more important to spend a pick on a man who could become the next great linebacker in franchise history. If Smith turns out to be the defensive cornerstone they’re hoping for, we could be looking back on this pick, along with the Mitch Trubisky move in 2017, that changed everything for the Bears.
But another linebacker the Bears took in this draft, Joel Iyiegbuniwe, could end up being almost as impactful.
Even though no one saw this pick coming — and some of us thought it a poor move — we should all start studying up. Because Iyiegbuniwe can play some football.
Joel Iyiegbuniwe had an 85.5 run-defense grade last season, which is among the leaders in this year's linebacker class
— PFF CHI Bears (@PFF_Bears) April 28, 2018
Of course, admittedly, you have to dig (as I have) to find the film on the redshirt junior out of Western Kentucky, which isn’t exactly playing SEC opponents. But if you can find that, you’ll see another linebacker with the athleticism and coverage ability to make plays in the NFL.
Here’s a preliminary look into what Iyiegbuniwe can offer and whether or not he can eventually team up with Smith to form one of the deadliest linebacker combos in the league.