Chicago Bears NFL Draft: Potential 5th Round steals

5. Safety Julian Blackmon, Utah

Maybe one of the more versatile defensive backs in all of the draft is currently being talked about as a mid-round pick. Julian Blackmon heads into the draft as a guy who is coming off an injury late in his final season at Utah, which is a big reason he isn’t mocked higher than he is right now.

Blackmon has a great frame for both corner and safety, and actually played cornerback previously before he switched to safety. He is quite athletic across the board, possessing decent sideline-to-sideline speed and being able to play up near the box if need be.

The fact that Blackmon can play nickel, outside corner as well as safety makes him an attractive prospect. He is stronger than most as a defensive back and is not afraid of squaring up bigger targets like tight ends. He will hit you when the time comes, too.

Over his last two seasons with Utah, Blackmon totaled 108 tackles including 8.0 for a loss. He also added 14 passes defended, five interceptions, two defensive touchdowns, two forced fumbles and 1.5 sacks.

I’m not saying he will definitively come in and start right away next to Jackson, but he very well could compete for and win the job. Blackmon is smart and versatile enough to find a way to contribute from the get-go.