Chicago Bears 2019 NFL Draft Primer: Everything you need to know

13. Deionte Thompson, Safety, Alabama

At the start of the offseason, it appeared as if Deionte Thompson was going to be the top-ranked safety, however, a wrist injury has limited him throughout this pre-draft process. Although Thompson’s injury may be a concern, when healthy, he can be an impact player.

Through his first two seasons at Alabama, Thompson appeared in just 15 games. However, in his final season (2018), he appeared in 14 games. What’s concerning here is the fact that it took until his third year in college to become a full-time starter.

Despite being shaky in coverage, one thing that Thompson does well is tackle. In his final season at Alabama, Thompson had 78 tackles, including 3.5 tackles for loss. Thompson isn’t a big hitter, but one thing that he does very well is getting physical.

One thing to keep in mind about Thompson is that at the start of his 2018 season, it appeared as if he’d be a first-round pick in this year’s draft. However, after a slight decline in his play down the stretch, as well as an injury, his draft stock is going to be lower than most expect.

At this point, it seems like Thompson is going to be an early day two pick. Since the Bears are projected to have nine picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, including two second-rounders, Ryan Pace could trade up and draft Thompson if he’s fully healthy and can be a long-term replacement next to Eddie Jackson.