Chicago Bears 7-Round Mock Draft: A post-Andy Dalton dilemma

With their final pick in the draft, the Bears finally go defense with Texas A&M safety Leon O’Neal Jr. This isn’t a highly-touted player in his class by any means, but O’Neal certainly has some traits to like about him.

One of the biggest reasons the Bears will find him late in the draft is because of his lack of speed and athleticism. He isn’t the best athlete, but if he is slotting in at strong safety, that’s not necessarily a deal breaker.

The one thing O’Neal does have going for him is his ability to wrap up. What jumps out on tape immediately is his pursuit. O’Neal knows how to finish a tackle, and that’s something the Bears lacked last year all over the field. He’s definitely best suited up closer to the box, where he’s been used to blitz at times, too.

At 6-foot-1, weighing 210 pounds, O’Neal possesses excellent size for a defensive back. He’s definitely got a little extra muscle, and it comes out on tape. He isn’t afraid to come up and lay a hit on somebody. That’s the type of player the Bears are missing in their secondary, and have been since losing Adrian Amos.

O’Neal may take a year or so to truly develop, but his best traits are some which the Bears could really use. He should find a home on special teams right away and could eventually work his way into a starting spot if all goes right for him.