Who are the safety options that the Chicago Bears could be looking at in round 2?
One of the bigger surprises of the 2020 NFL draft was that no safeties went in the first round. Now, with 11 picks until the Chicago Bears are on the clock, some of the best safeties in the entire draft will likely be on the board for their pick.
One or two may go before-hand, but the Chicago Bears could be looking at safety they valued very highly with one of their top 50 picks. Who are five players the Chicago Bears should be watching for during the second round?
5. Grant Delpit, LSU
A year ago at this time, nobody would have suspected that Grant Delpit would fall out of round 1. Now, it was hardly a surprise. In fact, there is a high chance the LSU stud will be there at pick 43. The question is whether the Chicago Bears should take him. Delpit is fast; no one denies that. He has excellent ball skills and overall coverage ability. However, he is not physical and misses tackles.
He is a free safety, a player who would fill the role of Eddie Jackson. The Bears need a box safety to step in and compliment Jackson. Bears fans should hope that Delpit goes soon, and pushes others down.
4. Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
Winfield Jr. is a great fit, and a player we profiled due to the Bears reported interest. Winfield has all of the smarts of a football player’s son but is undoubtedly undersized. Winfield can play any spot in the defensive backfield, but his best area may be the deep field as a free safety.
His versatility makes him a better fit in Chicago than Delpit, but his ball skills and deep field presence are redundant with Jackson.
3. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Ryne
From where? If you are wondering why Dugger was not a first-round pick, look no further than the school. Still, we know Ryan Pace will draft players from unknown schools.
Dugger is 24 years old, which is old for a rookie, but would show a player ready to start next year. He is highly athletic, and most of all is a great scheme with fit with Jackson. Dugger has great speed but is almost an undersized linebacker as much as a safety. He can hit, he defends the run, and he covers tight ends well. Of course, there is a lot of projection, but the fit on defense makes a lot of sense.
2. Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
Another highly athletic, small school safety who could go top 50? That sure does sound like Ryan Pace’s music. Chinn brings a bit more intrigue than Dugger is that he is younger, a bit more athletic, and while it is not huge, did player slightly better competition.
Chinn also has more versatility, although it is evident with his size and physicality that he is a box safety. Chinn is a player we mocked to the Chicago Bears in the past, and the fit should surprise no one.
1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama
We have hardly written about McKinney, mainly because most mocks said that he would go round one, and if not very early in round two. Now that we are just a few picks away, it may be time to consider a small fall for McKinney being a gift for the Chicago Bears.
McKinney has some issues in coverage and was not a play-caller on the Alabama defense.
However, he lined up everywhere and was one of the best run defenders on the Alabama defense. He mostly was a linebacker the way he could defend the run.
Big tight ends and fast running backs can give him issues, but he also has the versatility to match up with both. Coming from Bama, he clearly would be an excellent fit next to Eddie Jackson.
A box safety with big school pedigree and a perfect fit in the defense would have to be entertained. Would you be happy if Xavier McKinney fell?