According to Aaron Wilson, the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams was at the Houston Pro Day to see two players, one mainly being Logan Hall. Hall is a projected top 50 pick and was noted after his pro day workout that he models his game after DeForest Buckner, someone who was close with Williams, as well as head coach Matt Eberflus. Will the Bears find their next version in Logan Hall?
Logan Hall’s stats and athletic profile
According to Pro Football Focus, last season Hall spent 376 snaps in the B-gap, 106 snaps over or outside the tackle, and 24 snaps in the a-gap. He played 1,194 snaps over the past three seasons with 56% coming as a pass rusher.
Below you can see his stats, and that he was able to get onto the field as a true freshman. Hall has played in a 3-4 and 4-3 front throughout his four-year run as a starter.
Thanks to MockDraftable we can see how athletic Logan Hall looks compared to other defensive linemen that worked out at the NFL combine in past seasons.
For an interior defensive lineman, Logan Hall is long and thin. When you compare him to a defensive lineman, his weight is above average, and his athletic measurements are not as strong. Compared to interior linemen he will have to win with athleticism due to his frame, but the NFL combine says that this is a possibility. He tested well above average in almost every area. His 10-yard split, as well as his agility drills, speak the most about his quick movement skills off of the line of scrimmage.
Strengths that Logan Hall brings to the NFL
You can see the athleticism on full display when Logan Hall is able to get off of the football with explosiveness. He was often miscast in the Houston defense, but when you saw his ability to shoot gaps and get into the backfield it was arguably his best trait.
Hall used that explosiveness to get under the lineman and drive them back. Hall has violent hands and knows how to use them. He can slaps linemen hard and often get their arms away from him with his vicious attacks.
His game is predicated on living in the backfield, and his athleticism shows that this is an area where he can continue to find success.
Weaknesses where Logan Hall must adapt in the NFL
The downside with Logan Hall is that he may end up as a tweener who can never really find a role. He spent a lot of his time in a 3-4 front and is still a bit raw when it comes to the role that he would likely be playing in the NFL.
While he can get into the backfield quickly, it comes with the hit-and-miss component. He is not as gap strong, and while that comes with his playing style, it also comes because he is not as strong against thicker offensive lineman.
When he is not rushing the passer he can get stood up quickly and lose the leverage game with his higher cut build. This makes him a negative in the run game if he cannot get into the backfield quick enough to disrupt the play. The right role, as well as the right coaching and progression, are key for his success in the NFL.
What is the NFL comparison for Logan Hall?
Logan Hall NFL comparison
Thanks to RAS, and MathBomb, we are able to look at some NFL comparisons based on athleticism and playing style. One player who has a similar build, that also has a playing style to match what Logan Hall could bring to the NFL is Malik Jackson.
Check out how the two compare below.
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Logan Hall is a bit taller but is a bit more athletic In a couple of areas. Still, had Hall posted a similar broad jump you could say that the two would have an even closer overall score.
Either way, the biggest comparison comes in terms of playing style. Malik Jackson was looked at as a tweener, or even a 3-4 defensive end at times as well. He fell into the fifth round, and it took him a couple of seasons to get on the field. When he did, he blossomed, because he could win with his hands and get into the backfield. He fought on run downs and it was enough to help Denver with a Super Bowl and get him big deals with Jacksonville and Philadelphia.
The NFL looks at fast interior pass rushers in a different lense now, thanks to a player such as Jackson shining in recent years. His success would be what a team should be thinking of when they plan to draft Logan Hall. The type of role in the defense that Jackson played would be where Logan Hall would thrive best.
Should Chicago Bears draft Logan Hall?
With 31 teams at Houston to attend and meet with Logan Hall, there is a lot of interest. Reports are that he may be a late first-round pick but will be a top 50 lock.
The Chicago Bears just so happen to have two draft picks in the 33-50 range as well. We saw firsthand how much they value an upfield pass rusher from the 3-technique spot. They wanted to make a big splash on the first day of free agency and signed Larry Ogunjobi.
Ogunjobi has a bit of a different build, but based on the role is another comparison for what you would expect Logan Hall to bring to the NFL. Last season Ogunjobi saw his missed tackles go up, but his production went up as the result. That is what you live with when you draft Hall or sign Ogunjobi.
The fact that he would fill the exact role that they missed out on with the Ogunjobi failed physical has to make you think that the interest in Logan Hall is real.
Like DeForest Buckner in Indianapolis, Eberflus seems inclined to build his defense around that Interior wrecker, and that is what Logan Hall does. It is very easy to envision what he brings to fitting this defense. Fans want a wideout, and a cornerback if not an offensive line, but if they draft a defensive lineman in the top 50, it will be the Matt Eberflus crush on Logan Hall.