Chicago Bears Draft Profile: CB Bryce Callahan
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Strengths:
Callahan’s lack of size is why he wasn’t drafted, but he plays much bigger than his 5’10 frame. He’s an ultra aggressive corner who is physical with receivers at the line of scrimmage, throughout their routes, and at the catch point. Callahan makes up for his lack of height with a 43″ vertical and pretty good strength for a smaller corner. He shows good instincts, ball skills, and timing to disrupt receivers when the ball arrives. Callahan is aggressive in run support and a surprisingly viscous hitter for an undersized DB. He has above-average short area quickness which allows him to stay with quick receivers and close on ball carriers with authority. Callahan plays mean with a chip on his shoulder and an attitude that will win Bears fans over right away.
Weaknesses:
Callahan’s aggressiveness gets the better of him every once in awhile. He is physical with receivers at the line, but bigger receivers can occasionally have their way with him. He also bites on double moves too often, leaving him vulnerable to deep routes. Callahan attacks ball carriers as if he’s much bigger than he is and is sometimes just over-matched physically which results in too many missed tackles. His aggressiveness at the catch point also results in too many pass interference penalties. Callahan plays like he is 6’0, 200, but he’s not and it sometimes gets him into trouble. I’d rather have a corner that plays too aggressive than one who is too passive any day.
Bears Fit:
Callahan isn’t a good match for the type of big corner DC Vic Fangio normally targets, but he does play with a physicality Fangio looks for. He’s very aggressive at the line of scrimmage in press coverage and has the speed and fluid hips to stay with receivers in space as well. Callahan is the type of smart, tough leader that GM Ryan Pace said he will be targeting in the draft. The Bears have a promising slot corner in Demontre Hurst, but Callahan could give him a run for the slot job and worst case provide value in dime packages and on special teams.
Callahan plays much bigger than his size, has excellent ball skills (14 career INTs), and seems to elevate his play against better competition. He has a fluid back pedal, sticky man coverage skills, good short-area quickness, and is a fierce hitter in run support despite his small frame. Callahan was one of my favorite day 3 prospects and I think he will end up being a starting-caliber slot corner early in his NFL career.
The Bears currently have Demontre Hurst at the top of the depth chart in the slot and I am a big fan of Hurst as well, but there isn’t much depth behind him. Tim Jennings has been playing in the slot in OTAs so far and if he stays there it would make it more difficult for Callahan to see the field on Sundays, but Jennings has been playing outside in a cover 2 his whole career so the transition to the slot may not work out.
Adding a player like Callahan to the mix would give the Bears some depth in the slot and a player who can contribute in sub packages when teams line up in 4-5 WR sets. Callahan also has experience returning punts which may give him an edge over other DBs competing for the last corner spot. He will definitely need to make an impact on special teams to earn a roster spot, but with Callahan’s willingness to hit that shouldn’t be a problem.