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Chicago Bears Draft Scout: Bryce Love

By Parker Hurley

PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Running back Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal rushes up field for a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images)
PALO ALTO, CA - NOVEMBER 10: Running back Bryce Love #20 of the Stanford Cardinal rushes up field for a touchdown against the Oregon State Beavers during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Palo Alto, California. (Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /
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Would the former Stanford running back look good wearing a Chicago Bears uniform?

The Chicago Bears have spent a lot of time looking into running backs as they plan to draft one this April. Whether they keep Jordan Howard or not, they appear ready to add a compliment with the potential to move on from Howard before it is time to extend him.

Bryce Love was once a Heisman finalist whose name has slipped between the cracks during NFL draft season. What happened to the buzz and does he fit in Chicago?

Strengths

Bryce Love is a home run hitter. He is fast and there is no denying that when he is in the open field you may as well stop running because he is gone. That is what drove his stats at Stanford. For his size, he has impressive strength and when he gets a step or two to add speed, lower body tackles can easily be shrugged off.

Love is elusive in space and can take any run to the house. That is going to have a role in the NFL.

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Weakness

Love checked into the combine at 200 pounds, which is likely a maxed out frame for his size. He is not a bigger back and unlikely to take the power duties in the NFL. On top of that, he dealt with nagging injuries in 2018 and ended his season with an ACL tear.

Love did not compete during any of the drills in the combine with his issue. It is fair to question what round does a player who relies on speed and cannot currently walk should be drafted.

While Love can hit the home run, it also comes with plenty of strikeouts. Love has average vision at best and typically needs a runway to get himself ramped up to get into top gear. The inability to turn on the jets instantly, and constant runs for a loss or runs where he was jammed at the line offset a lot of the fun he brings to the table with his big plays.

Skinny

Love is tricky to evaluate because one year we saw him at his peaks. The other we saw him in his valley. His NFL career likely will fall in between.

If Love is going to make it in the NFL, it would be a third compliment to Tarik Cohen and Jordan Howard. Love could occasionally come in to help in the passing game, but obviously, help add big plays.

Tarik Cohen provides big plays but is a more lateral mover. Love is a compliment in that he runs straight downhill with his speed.

Still, his perfect fit in Chicago is as a career number three or backup to Cohen. At the earliest, the Chicago Bears should consider Love in round five or six. There is a chance he could fall that low with his injury questions. If that does happen, he can become an interesting depth option who can provide in the form of big plays.

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