Chicago Bears: Could This Be The Draft Wild Card?

When it comes to the Chicago Bears and the draft these days, it’s expect the unexpected. It seems like there is a good feel for which names they’ll target.

Based on their free agency maneuvers, almost all of which were directed at upgrading the offense, the odds favor them going after a defensive player. That is unless guard Quenton Nelson unexpectedly falls to the #8 spot. Barring that, it appears there will be a wealth of defenders available who can upgrade an already strong defense. It’s a matter of figuring out which position. Conventional wisdom would indicate it will be the front seven.

Why? A number of factors. For one, their outside and inside linebacker positions are both undermanned. Leonard Floyd is the only projected starter back from last season and he’s coming off a knee injury. The other would be free agent addition Aaron Lynch. As for inside linebacker, both Jerrell Freeman and Christian Jones are gone, leaving Danny Trevathan and the still somewhat unproven Nick Kwiatkoski in the middle.

The edge rusher problem might not be solvable at #8, but there are three viable inside linebackers in Roquan Smith, Tremaine Edmunds and Leighton Vander Esch who have the sort of talent that befits that high a pick. However, what if that’s what the Bears want everybody to think. Upon closer inspection, there is one other player who checks all the boxes. There’s just one problem.

He’s a safety.

Derwin James is the epitome of a “Bears Box” guy

Last year Ryan Pace indicated that his front office approaches each draft with something they call a “Bears Box.” It’s a special square on the draft board that holds upwards of 20 names that the team considers ideal Bears players. The type of guys they want in the organization. Mitch Trubisky and Adam Shaheen were in that box. It represents players who not only are physically gifted on the field but are shining examples in the locker room as well.

If that box still exists, then it’s a foregone conclusion that Florida State safety Derwin James is in it. Nobody has talked about this kid much at all. It’s time that changed. Ever so quietly he’s put together a tremendous pre-draft run. At 6’3″, 215 lbs he ran a 4.47 in the 40 and posted a 40-inch vertical at the scouting combine. Those are absurd numbers for a safety.

Not only that, but rumors persist he’s a leader in the locker room and on the field as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com wrote in his draft profile.

"“Absolute alpha in the locker room. Comes up to handle film sessions on weekends. When he talks, players listen.”"

If that weren’t enough, it might be interesting to see which pro he was compared to. That would be All-Pro Eric Berry. In case people forgot, the new Bears head coach is Matt Nagy. He had a front row seat for watching Berry since 2013 as a Chiefs assistant coach. Few people can have a greater appreciation for how great he was than Nagy.

James has infinitely greater potential than Adrian Amos

Of course, this will bring up the inevitable Adrian Amos argument. Indeed the former 5th round pick came out of nowhere off the bench to have a surprisingly good year starting next to Eddie Jackson for the Bears. That said, he doesn’t have near the potential James does. James is bigger, stronger and faster. He also seems to have a greater feel for making plays in coverage as the video shown above proves.

Next: Chicago Bears 2018 NFL Mock Draft: That Georgia Feeling

Look this is not a guarantee that James is going to be the pick. It could easily go as most expect with the Bears taking Nelson or a linebacker. Still, it’s hard to ignore the warning signs. Everything about James on and off the field screams “Pace guy.” There is almost nothing he can’t do for a defense. If the Bears put him under the guidance of Vic Fangio we’re talking a possible perennial All-Pro in the secondary. He and Jackson could give quarterbacks nightmares for years to come.