In Part 5 of our series, we looked at the top 5 cornerbacks the Chicago Bears should target in the 2014 NFL draft. Now, in part 6, we’ll take a look at a position the Bears have put strong emphasis on this offseason — safety.
Before the start of the 2013 season, many Bears fans — and the organization alike — thought the team’s safety tandem of Major Wright and Chris Conte was on the rise and would be a fixture for the future. Fast forward one year and Wright is now a free agent while Conte has at least two other new additions (Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings) to compete with for playing time. The Bears have also signed Danny McCray and re-signed Craig Steltz, but those are depth and special teams moves at best. Regardless, the team has focused in on a position of need this offseason and there is even more room for improvement.
The Bears would be well suited to take a strong look at the following safeties in this year’s draft:
Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Ha
1 — Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, Alabama
Simply put, Clinton-Dix is an elite talent at the position and would be a game changer for the Bears. He’s got above average size and speed (6-1, 208 and 4.58 40-time) and is equally effective against the run and in coverage. He’s got fantastic play making abilities and anticipation skills and would fit perfectly into a defense that has desperately searched for a ball hawk safety over the past several years. Clinton-Dix is likely to start drawing interest around pick #13 in the draft with the Rams, so the Bears would be wise to nab him up at No. 14.