Day 2 Summary: Chicago Bears Select Florida Linebacker Jon Bostic

November 17, 2012; Gainesville FL, USA; Florida Gators linebacker Jon Bostic (1) points during the second half against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. Florida Gators defeated the Jacksonville State Gamecocks 23-0. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bears were able to shore up their defense and hopefully found the successor to middle linebacker Brian Urlacher with the second round selection of linebacker Jon Bostic out of Florida.

Bears GM Phil Emery had Bostic ranked as the most athletic middle linebacker prospect and projects him as a starter, but in the immediate future, the Bears expect him to be able to fill in at any of the linebacker spots in case projected starters James Anderson, DJ Williams or Lance Briggs get sidelined:

"“Felt it was very important that if we were going to take a linebacker in the second round that we get somebody who can immediately fill in at all three spots,” Emery said. “We see him as a future starter. A very dynamic player.”"

As Phil Emery has done repeatedly, he put conventional wisdom aside and passed on Kansas State linebacker Arthur Brown, who many pundits had ranked ahead of Bostic.  The champion Ravens, also seeking to replace a legendary middle linebacker, traded up to grab Brown a few spots after the Bears passed on him.

Bostic doesn’t feel too much pressure to replace a legend or hit the field quickly with veterans ahead of him:

"“It’s not pressure at all to me,” Bostic said. “(I’m) more of a guy who can pretty much watch and learn a lot of things on film. Obviously to play at this level it’s going to take a lot of work, a lot of studying to do (but) I’ll be able to catch up to the speed of this game.”"

As a result of last offseason’s Brandon Marshall trade, the Bears went into Day 2 without a third round pick.   Since the Bears were unable to trade down on Day 1, the Bears did not have a third round selection.  They have three picks remaining on Saturday’s conclusion of the 2013 draft – picks 117 (Round 4), 153 (Round 5) and 188 (Round 6).  They have no 7th round choice, which was traded to Tampa Bay for Brian Price.