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With the draft roughly a month away Beargoggleson will be breaking down a wide range of options for the Chicago Bears in the 2015 draft. We’ll start with the potential first round options, profile some possible day 2 prospects, and finish up with some under the radar day 3 players who I think could be good fits for the Bears new schemes on both sides of the ball. As always, if you have any complaints, advice, or questions please let us know in the comments or on Twitter.
DE / OLB Randy Gregory, Nebraska
Measurables – 6’5 | 235
Attributes (40 | vertical | broad jump| 3-cone) – 4.64 | 36.5″ | 10′ 5″ | 6.79
College: A JUCU transfer who burst on the scene with 19.5 TFLs and 10.5 sacks his sophomore year to lead the Big 10. His junior season was less impressive with a few games missed due to injury and less production due partly to more attention from offensive game plans with TEs and RBs staying in to chip Gregory. Despite 3 missed games and constant double teams, Gregory still had 7 sacks on the season and also blocked 2 kicks.
Strengths: A natural pass-rusher who has all the tools to be a double-digit sack guy in the NFL right away. Gregory already has 2-3 polished pass rush moves and has the instincts to know when to use them. He has a quick first step, has shown the ability to shed blocks and can run down QBs in pursuit. Gregory moves like a wide receiver with the agility to dodge blockers, doesn’t lose speed when he changes direction, and has the long arms to keep separation and disengage when he can’t avoid blocks. He also has the awareness to get his hands in passing lanes when blocked and batted down 4 passes last season. As a pass rusher Gregory is the total package.
Weaknesses: There are more question marks with Gregory than with most top ten prospects, but that just reflects how high his upside is. Gregory has a recent red flag with an admitted failure of a drug test at the combine for marijuana. Failing a drug test at the combine when you know it’s coming and your NFL future depends on it… is just dumb. Which when you consider that Gregory also couldn’t qualify academically out of high school, teams have to wonder about Gregory’s mental capacity not only to understand defensive schemes but to stay out of the NFL’s drug offender program. On the field the only significant weaknesses that Gregory has are the ability to keep weight on and being hold his ground against the run when teams go right at him.
Bears Fit: There have been multiple comparisons of Gregory to Aldon Smith due to their length, explosion off the ball, natural pass rushing skills, and off-field question marks. Smith was the first pick for the Niners the year that Vic Fangio took over as their defensive coordinator (2011) and became the pass rushing motor for a defense that finished in the top 5 four years in a row. Could Fangio be looking for a similar player to rebuild the Bears defense around? If so, he will have multiple options as there are 5 pass rushers with top 15 grades in this years draft, but none with the potential ceiling of Gregory. The Bears new management showed they are willing to take some chances on players with off-field red flags when they signed DE Ray McDonald, so if Gregory’s recent drug issue drops him out of the top 6 then the Bears may be willing to draft Gregory with the 7th overall pick.
Draft Projection: Top 15
Highlights: