Chicago Bears: Mid Round Hybrid LB/S Options

The Chicago Bears have two solid safeties but could use help in the sub package NFL

The Chicago Bears struck gold last year when Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson ascended together to be a strong safety pairing. However, more than ever teams are bringing in a third safety as sub-package football dominating. You need players who can match up in coverage with tight ends and running backs, but also be prepared to defend the run. It started with Deone Bucannon with the Arizona Cardinals, but many teams are swapping out run-stuffing linebackers with pass defending safeties. When looking at the depth of the Bears, they could be looking into adding a depth safety who could also sub in for a player such as Nick Kwiatkowski when teams are heavy on a pass catcher. Who are some options and when could the Bears strike?

Marcus Allen, Penn State, Round 4

Allen is a player who is designed to move into this hybrid linebacker/safety role. He is the size of a safety, but the movement and physicality of a linebacker. The Chicago Bears met with Allen at the Senior Bowl and may have seen a player who can slide into the box for sub-package football.

Allen is big and explosive but not quick and agile. He gets downhill quick and plays with his head on fire. Below, he reads the screens, explodes downfield and launches his opponent into the end zone.

Maybe a bit outside of the box, but Allen is gunning right in between the tackles to make the stuff for a small gain.

Allen is stiff and likely would not play much deep coverage for the Bears. What would be great about him would be sticking him in the box. He would be a special teams asset and chess piece. However, his physicality did show up in coverage, and he still can be looked at as a better coverage threat than any linebacker not named Danny Trevathan. In round four, he brings enough value to Chicago.

Terrell Edmunds, S, Virginia Tech: Round 4

We all know of Tremaine Edmunds and his rumors to the Chicago Bears. However, in the back end is his older brother Terrell, who has just as much versatility and athleticism.

Edmunds injured his collarbone

, ending his season and hurting his draft buzz at the moment. However, it could cause a discount in a versatile chess piece in the passing game. Edmunds is physical enough in the running game to move into the box on third downs.

However, compared to some others in this draft class, he played a lot more in coverage. Edmunds can play in the slot and can defend sideline to sideline against slot receivers, running backs and big tight ends.

Edmunds also has the ball skills and athleticism to roam the deep portions of the field. The Bears can shuffle Jackson, Edmunds, and Amos back deep and into the slot or the box based on the matchups they are facing.

Like his brother, Edmunds is a bit rawer when it comes to instinctual movement and understanding. He can often get turned around, and at times he struggles to find the ball in the air.

However, this is what makes his transition as a player who sets up closer to the line of scrimmage, in man, on a bigger tight end is likely his best bet. When teams try to stretch you out, he is the chess piece to come in and that could be valuable in round four.

Godwin Igwebuike, Northwestern: Round 5

Igwebuike is an interesting chess piece, and almost a completely different player than Edmunds. Both have athleticism, but both could be utilized in a variety of ways.

Igwebuike is much better downhill, stuffing the run. He played strong safety in college, but his size, pursuit, and strength in tackling against the run make him another player who can convert into the box.

In fact, Igwebuike can set the edge like a run-defending linebacker. His best ability is likely his gap discipline and run recognition when getting downhill.

However, while he is better in the backend and reading the defense in zone, he has some real issues in man. He can often get his eyes stuck in the backfield, as shown below, completely losing track of his man.

On third downs, the team could slide Jackson or Amos into the box and on early downs, he could play in the box some to stop the run. However, his understanding and gap discipline makes him an excellent special teams candidate from the jump as well.

Dane Cruikshank, Arizona, Round 6

Dane Cruikshank was a player who was not getting any buzz until the combine. However, that came down to some of his issues in coverage. When matching his athleticism to his playing demeanor, there is a hybrid linebacker potential here.

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While he is slow to recognize and does struggle deep down the field in coverage, he is the only player to intercept both Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen. His ability to break on the ball, and keep things in front of him can make up for some of his lapses. Keeping him that close to the line of scrimmage is going to utilize his straight-line speed and make him an asset in coverage in the NFL.

Cruikshank also has the combination of size, speed, and strength to move into the box. He excels in blitzing off of the edge, stuffing the run near the line of scrimmage, and getting downhill with his speed. Watch his explosion to get through a block and make the play.

His limited coverage ability and instincts shoot him down draft boards, but with a baseline of speed to perform on special teams combined with hybrid linebacker upside in the NFL, Dane Cruikshank could be a late round draftee.

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