Chicago Bears 2019 NFL Draft: Late round safety targets
By Ryan Heckman
Mike Bell, Fresno State
When it comes to playing in the secondary, having height definitely helps your cause. Mike Bell measures in at 6-foot-3 and weighs 210 pounds, giving him unbelievable size at the position. He reminds me of the Seattle Seahawks secondary and when it was full of guys 6-feet or taller — the infamous “Legion of Boom.”
Bell possesses a lot to like at the safety spot and can play high if need be. His ball skills are out of this world, as he came away with 14 total pass breakups and three interceptions in 2018. Bell was definitely the physical presence among his Fresno State secondary.
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One of the reasons he will fall towards the end of the draft is his tendency to over pursue. Bell can be a bit over zealous at times and it gets him into trouble. This is something he can fix with the right coaching and more mental focus. It’s all about discipline with guys like this.
He plays faster than he is, but Bell still isn’t the quickest guy on the field. He will benefit from playing behind a dominant pass rush, which the Bears have. Bell is raw, but sitting a season and learning a lot from the guys ahead of him would do wonders for his development.