Chicago Bears Mock Draft: No need for free agent QB
By Ryan Heckman
Round 5, Pick 163
Pick Analysis. Georgia. 5. player. Scouting Report. S. J.R. Reed. 57
In the fifth round, maybe Pace takes another mid-round shot on a defensive back from a top-tier school. The last time he did that, things turned out pretty well when he drafted Eddie Jackson in the fourth.
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Georgia Bulldogs safety J.R. Reed is the son of former NFL receiver Jake Reed, and plays with the mind of a veteran. You can tell football is in his blood, because Reed just has those instincts.
While Reed lacks any spark in terms of athleticism, he is a sound tackler and closes quickly. If you put him on the Bears, and he earned a starting spot, it would be at the strong safety position. Obviously, Jackson plays better at the free safety, so Reed would make most sense in the box.
He is also a guy who would benefit a lot from sitting behind someone for a year. Should the Bears choose to re-sign Ha Ha Clinton-Dix or take another 1-year flier on a different free agent, Reed would be a great option as a developmental backup.
Over his three-year career with Georgia, Reed totaled 199 tackles, 14 passes defensed, 9.0 tackles for loss, five interceptions, three sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and two fumbles returned for touchdowns.