Chicago Bears Mock Draft: Great value found with players who opted out
By Ryan Heckman
2. player. Pick Analysis. DL. USC. Jay Tufele. Scouting Report. 57
The first player Chicago selects whom opted out of the 2020 season falls to them in the second round.
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Defensive line is not necessarily a top-tier priority for the Bears, but Jay Tufele falling to them at pick no. 52 is an absolute steal. He was on his way to being a potential first rounder, but the fact he did not play in 2020 hurt his chances there.
The 6-foot-3 Tufele is a stout, quick guy for 315 pounds. He gets off the line with an impressive burst.
Tufele offers a little flexibility up front, too, as he’s played in different spots along the defensive line. His quickness, primarily, is why he can play different spots. One of the best parts of his game is Tufele’s prowess in run-stopping.
This is an animal who commands multiple blockers if an opposing offense is to prevent him from blowing up a run play. If there’s one huge weakness seen at times during the 2020 season, on defense, it’s in stopping the run. Tufele will help in that department immediately.
Chicago will get Eddie Goldman back next year and will likely see Akiem Hicks and Bilal Nichols starting outside of him, but Tufele gives the Bears one heck of a fourth guy up front who could rotate in often. He’s the type of player who can come in and spell any one of the three up front while keeping them all fresh.
All in all, Tufele is a mean, nasty, disruptive football player. That’s the kind of player this defense needs at any level.