If the Bears decide not to draft a safety in the first round, they can still find plenty of talent in the second round. Several scouting services believe that there around six players that could be considered second round safeties. Included in that number is Iowa’s Desmond King who is thought to be either a safety or a cornerback.
Chicago Bears
In addition to King, the remaining second round safety prospect are Budda Baker, Marcus Williams, Malik Hooker, Eddie Jackson and Obi Melifonwu. They all are a mix of free and strong safeties.
There are two guys that really stand out in this group. They are two guys that the Bears should really take a good look at.
Baker, who is from the University of Washington, is slated to be a free safety in the NFL. He has quietly made a name for himself and looks to be one of the better safety prospects in the draft.
His combine height and weight had him at 5’10”/195 pounds. He ran a solid 4.45 40 showing that he has the kind of speed needed to keep up in the NFL. But, some seem to think with his size and that kind of speed, he would be better suited at cornerback than at safety.
Some of the positive attributes that Baker has include his intelligence as well as his ability to get after the quarterback. Being a blitzing safety can be a huge plus in any NFL defense. He is also able to react quickly to plays and make correct decisions. Baker is aggressive and plays tough.
Fox Sports says of Baker:
"Undersized for a defensive back. While not a crippling issue, such a drawback can often lead to injury problems and mismatches against bigger receivers."
Another second round rated talent that could interest the Bears is Melifonwu. Coming out of the University of Connecticut, Melifonwu is not well known but he is someone everyone should get to know. He is a tall, big bodied strong safety (6’4”/224 pounds) who brings a lot the table. He is very athletic and can cover receivers as well as fast tight ends. His speed, 4.40 in the 40, allows him to make up ground fast and stick with some of the faster offensive players on the field.
As stated by NFL.com, some of the drawbacks to Melifonwu include:
"Leggy and gets feet bundled up when asked to turn and sprint. Lacks desired instincts and will play with slow eyes at times. Has to see ball in the air before charging over to help on deep throws. Inconsistent with coverage responsibilities from high safety. Takes time to diagnose play-action. Rub routes found him near goal line. Can take inefficient paths to the ball that get him there a step too late. Would benefit from high-pointing rather than waiting on throws."
If the Bears had to choose between Melifonwu and Baker, their best bet would be to go with Melifonwu. He has the size and ability to make an impact at the safety position. While Baker may have the experience his size will limit him in the NFL and he may end up being a cornerback. The Bears will want someone that can stick with receivers, has the bulk to make big hits and can develop into a solid starter. Melifonwu is a guy that can do that. He is going to be one of the top safeties to come out in this draft and could easily be a Pro Bowl player in the future.