Chicago Bears Draft: Realistic options at edge rusher

Round 7 Favorite: Maxx Crosby, Eastern Michigan

If the Bears are sitting in Round 7, without having taken an edger rusher, and Maxx Crosby is available, he has to be the clear-cut favorite. Let’s check the boxes here: He has great size, boasts killer speed at the position, is an overall strong athlete and he’s from a smaller program in Eastern Michigan.

That’s a Ryan Pace draft pick, right there.

Last year, Crosby posted a career-best 19.0 tackles for loss while notching 7.5 sacks. In 2017, he totaled 16.5 tackles for loss and 11.0 sacks. Despite the competition lacking a bit, Crosby has done what he has to do to earn his shot in the pros.

At the Combine, Crosby ran a 4.66 40-yard dash while finishing his 3-cone drill in 6.89 seconds — very strong numbers for a 6-foot-5 pass rusher. Not to mention, Crosby defies the old stereotype, because he blew his vertical jump out of the water at 36.0 inches.

At the NFL level, Crosby simply needs to add more bulk to his frame — as do many kids coming out of college at this position, so that’s not a huge issue. He is someone who plays fast and hard which, if you’ve noticed, is a lot like most guys on this list. He already looks like he’d fit in well with the Bears defense. He plays relentlessly, and in the seventh round, would be a welcomed addition.