Bears Day 2 Draft Prospects: Edge Rushers

Yannick Ngakoue, Maryland (6’2 | 252 | 4.68) – Very productive pass rusher who led the FBS in total QB pressures last season with 57 (13 sacks, 10 hits, 34 hurries). Ngakoue uses a quick first step off the ball and elite hand placement to beat opposing tackles and then an explosive closing burst to track down QBs and finish plays.

In his two years as a starter for the Terps Ngakoue had 19 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. He raised his play against tougher competition as well finishing as the 7th ranked pass rusher verse power-5 schools according to Pro Football Focus.

Ngakoue’s best trait is how he uses his hands. He shows a knack for knocking away the punch from opposing tackles and hitting them in just the right spot to get them off balance. Combining his quick first step with effective hands allowed Ngakoue to beat tackles off both the right and left sides. He also showed off a nifty spin move and the ability to be effective rushing on stunts as well as off the edge.

Ngakoue’s pass rush ability is among the best in this year’s draft class, but the rest of his game needs a lot of work. He misses way to many tackles for a guy so good with his hands and focuses so much on the QB that he gets caught up-field too often and can be a liability against the run. Ngakoue also lacks the prototype length that teams look for in edge rushers and is raw in pass coverage, though has flashed some potential. He spent most of his time with his hand on the ground, but did play as a stand-up OLB at times.

Ngakoue should provide value right away as at least a situational pass rusher. His quickness, lateral agility, and hand usage will give NFL tackles trouble, but the rest of his game has a long way to go. I don’t see Ngakoue becoming a starting caliber player for at least a season or two, but the potential is there. As a rookie he could provide a valuable speed rush element to the Bears defense and eventually develop into an all-around force off the edge.

Next: Joe Schobert