Chicago Bears 2018 NFL Draft Primer

Bradley Chubb

Edge Rusher is one of the biggest needs for the Bears. Even after adding Aaron Lynch in free agency, adding one more player to the position should be a priority at some point in the draft and not something the front office merely considers.   

Since the start of the college season, Bradley Chubb has been labeled as the best edge rusher in this class.

One of the things that goes unnoticed about Chubb is the fact that he started his career at N.C. State as an outside linebacker before switching over to defensive end. While he hasn’t lined up at outside linebacker since his sophomore season, we all know that Bears defensive coordinator Vic Fangio likes versatility. Under the guidance of Fangio, Chubb could potentially play either defensive end or outside linebacker, giving the Bears a long-term solution to both positions.

Chubb’s high motor, relentless effort to get after the ball carrier, gap integrity and strength are all that make him such an excellent player. He could be an ideal fit in the Bears 3-4 defensive scheme and would team up with Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman to form a nasty defensive line that could wreak havoc.

However, the three teams that pick ahead of the Bears (Broncos, Colts, and Buccaneers), could all select Chubb for various reasons. The Broncos need someone to pair with Von Miller, while the Colts and Buccaneers need to add to their pass rush.

Ryan Pace has slowly but surely developed a reputation for being aggressive in the first-round. If he believes Chubb is his guy, he’ll have to trade up at least two spots to grab him. Two ideal trade scenarios come to mind if the Bears are interested in trading up for Chubb.

Currently, the eighth overall pick is worth 1400 points on the NFL’s Draft Value Chart. In a scenario where the Bears want to trade up with the Indianapolis Colts for the sixth overall pick (worth 1600 points), the Bears would likely have to trade their two fourth-round picks (105 and 115), while adding on another mid-round pick to sweeten the deal for a move which is worth 200 points.

However, if the Bears were to decide to trade up just one spot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the move would be worth just one hundred points. To strike a deal with the Buccaneers would likely mean giving up a fourth rounder and possibly a sixth or seventh rounder at the minimum to complete the deal.