Chicago Bears: 2021 NFL Draft big board for positions of need
By Joseph Herff
Linebackers the Chicago Bears should target
Linebacker is one of the most underrated needs for the Chicago Bears this season. Roquan Smith struggles to stay healthy as well as Danny Trevathan aging with no true backup in place makes linebacker a huge need. Additionally, if the Bears shift to a 4-3 as I expect, linebacker becomes ever more important as I don’t expect Josh Woods or Joel Iyiegbuniwe to start.
Linebacker Rankings
- Micah Parsons, Penn State
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Notre Dame
- Zaven Collins, Tulsa
- Nick Bolton, Missouri
- Jabril Cox, LSU
- Chazz Surratt, North Carolina
- Cameron McGrone, Michigan
- Dylan Moses, Alabama
- Pete Werner, Ohio State
- Baron Browning, Ohio State
Player to Highlight: Jabril Cox, LSU
Fun fact: Jabril Cox used to be at North Dakota State with his fellow prospects Lance and Radunz before transferring to LSU. He made an impact on the SEC on his one-year stint in it where he impressed greatly. He has great length, athleticism, and fluidity to his game that could allow him to be a 4-3 inside linebacker or even potentially be a 3-4 outside linebacker as well. He can cover well too as NDSU constantly had him man cover slot receivers.
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Final Thoughts:
It is clear the Bears will have some tough decisions to make this offseason, but they need to hit on this draft if they want to be contenders next season. Depending on what they do in free agency affects greatly what they will be doing in this draft, so look to free agency to see how they could potentially tip their hand in April.