Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds is shooting up draft boards. Should the Chicago Bears draft him with the eighth overall pick?
Tremaine Edmunds went from a prized recruit to a defensive starter by the end of his true freshman season. As a sophomore, Edmunds exploded onto the scene with 94 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and an interception. In his junior year, Edmunds put up 108 tackles, 14 for loss, with 5.5 sacks. It is safe to say he finds himself near the ball. Should the Chicago Bears be going near him with the eighth overall pick?
Measurables
Age: 19
School: Virginia Tech
Strengths
Tremaine Edmunds has ridiculous size for his position. He stands out. He also moves extremely well for his size. Edmunds is able to shoot gaps quickly to blow plays up in the backfield.
Edmunds also has the ability to fight laterally through traffic and chase down fast down runners from behind.
For his size, he can be extremely dangerous in coverage as well. He moves well, can break quickly on passes, and has the instincts to make plays and cover space in zone, but also in man. Watch the play below how he is able to notice the receivers body movement and break not the ball before the quarterback starts to throw it.
Tremaine Edmunds also has the length and strength to disengage from blocks and continue to move laterally, and upfield with momentum.
That strength shows up on the goal line as well. First and goal from the three-yard line Clemson turns into third and goal after two runs with Tremaine Edmunds on the field. He blows first down up behind the line of scrimmage and saves a touchdown on second.
Weakness
There are times where Edmunds can be slow to process. He makes up for a lot of instinctive deficiencies with his size, length, and athleticism. While he has made plays in man, like the one above, his abilities in that regard are still questionable. In fact, the best of his game is moving laterally and making up ground. When he puts it all together it is special. It has yet to consistently be put together yet.
Pro Comparison Jaime Collins, New England Patriots
Even in the NFL, it is tough to find athletes with the size of Tremaine Edmunds. The fact of the matter is that if Edmunds fills out, he will be even bigger than Jaime Collins. Still, as far as movers in space, with the amount of size that is represented, Collins is the best match in the NFL today.
Collins can play inside and outside 2-4-5 and in the WILL spot for 4-2-5 teams. That is what Edmunds can bring. The versatility to line up in a variety of spots with the threat to drop into coverage, rush the passer and defend the run is what the two bring. It also makes Edmunds an interesting matchup against tight ends.
The versatility, athleticism and size are the great strengths that he brings. Collins is a known NFL commodity because the game was able to slow down for him and he was able to ascend into one of the best at his position. The athletic traits have Tremaine Edmunds in a position to follow in those footsteps if he can pick up the speed in the same way.
A fit for Chicago Bears
It could certainly be on the table. Vic Fangio would have to be intrigued by adding a chess piece such as Edmunds. Leonard Floyd was far from a complete product when he was drafted, but it intrigued the Chicago Bears. Tremaine Edmunds could fall into the same path.
The fact of the matter is, Edmunds is intriguing at eight specifically for his usage with Floyd. Edmunds can play inside and outside. Floyd has been known to be a strong pass rusher when dropping into coverage.
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Adding another athletic threat who can match up in a variety of ways and bring a variety of coverages is exactly the way to go when keeping up with the current state of the NFL. Something untalked about from this past Super Bowl is the usage at running back and tight end in the passing game from both teams. Having massive bodies who can move around in space and rush the passer is going to help remedy that.
This makes Tremaine Edmunds very intriguing when it comes to the eight overall pick.