Chicago Bears 2017 NFL Draft Redo: Trade Down Edition

Round 4 | Pick 111 | Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma

Jordan Howard’s running style seemed to work for the Chicago Bears.  Why not add a double dose of that and make the opposing defenses cry in the 4th quarter?  Samaje Perine may actually be a tougher runner than Howard.

Perine rips arm tackles out of shoulder sockets.  He is in a constant state of forward movement.  He won’t hit a home run very often, but the defense feels his punishing presence.  Reading about his attributes may as well be reading about how Howard performed for the Chicago Bears last year.

Full disclosure: If you watch the following highlight reel, and you love Jordan Howard (who doesn’t?), you’re going to be upset the Chicago Bears didn’t get Perine.

Round 4 | Pick 117 | Desmond King, S, Iowa

How King fell as far as he did is anyone’s guess.  Nearly every Chicago Bears’ fan was screaming for the team to select him by the time the 4th round rolled around.  Early in the draft process, King was often thought of a corner who needed some refining, but was nonetheless a day two pick.

To start things off, King played cornerback for the Hawkeyes.  Ignore that for a moment, and pretend he played free safety.  With that in mind, the first play from his highlight reel is pretty exciting.

Football instincts are off the charts.

King is a ball hawk.  He had 14 interceptions in the last three years, and could have had a few more.  King has great instinct when undercutting routes.  He is seemingly always in front of the receiver.  When singled up against a receiver for a jump ball, King wins the battle the majority of the time.  He is reminiscent of Mike Brown, and their shared ability to always be in the right location.

With the fourth round completed, the Bears pick up a Jordan Howard clone who creates a fourth quarter nightmare for tired, opposing defenses, and a converted free safety who likely starts by mid-season.