Chicago Bears: Deep dive into the hype of the 2021 NFL Draft (part 3)
Changing the Chicago Bears team attitude
The Chicago Bears need to know they are running out of time with the current linebacker duo on the roster. Danny Trevathan isn’t getting younger, and Roquan Smith just had his fifth-year option picked up. It was already to sign him to start with Smith, so getting a contract deal done might not be the easiest.
Enter linebacker Caleb Johnson of Houston Baptist. Johnson is listed at 6’2″ and 220 pounds. Johnson dominated his competition at HBU, which you want to see when you take a shot from a smaller school player. Outside of Johnson’s 2017 season, he was healthy and averaged 100 total tackles and ranged from three to six sacks a season. If Johnson can find a way to make the roster, he could become the next best story for Ryan Pace and his UDFA gems.
Offensive guard Dareuan Parker of Mississippi State is listed at 6’3″ and 355 pounds. Parker is the opposite of a Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy guy. The athletism Parker posses is minimal, but he has that anger bulldog mentality. Parker might be slow, but he knows that he is powerful. Once he gets his hands on you, he will bully you into your teammates until you both fall over. Upgrading the aggression level seems to be a point of emphasis this offseason. Parker brings that in spades.
Offensive tackle Gunnar Vogel Northwestern is a similar player but with less pass blocking ability. The tackle Vogel will struggle to make the roster but could bring that hunger on the practice squad. Unfortunately for Vogel, there are not many positive things to say about him as a talent. But he has the heart and desire to make sure the ran game is on point. I am sure it is not for lack of trying in the passing game; coach Juan Castillo will have his work cut out for him.
If Vogel can turn his determination into a positive, the Chicago Bears will have a mountain of a man with all of the intangibles ready to play at right tackle one day. Vogel reminds me of Bobby Massie but missing the nuances of pass blocking, footwork, and leverage. It’s not over until it is over for Vogel. The next prospect is a bit different from the two offensive linemen we have covered. Clemson had some underrated offensive linemen, and this next prospect is one of them.