2 Safeties the Chicago Bears should be watching on Friday
Kamren Kinchens - Miami
Following Jackson's release, the Bears must find a replacement at free safety, and Kinchens may be the perfect answer. One of this class's premier safeties, Kinchens has the center-field skills and aggression to succeed all across the defensive secondary. At 5'11", 205 lbs, the Miami product recorded 11 interceptions and nearly 120 tackles over his final two seasons.
Safety is not considered a premium position, so the Bears could realistically snatch up a player like Kinchens as late as the second day of the draft. In his short time with the team, general manager Ryan Poles has found great secondary talent in the second round, including Jaquan Brisker, Tyrique Stevenson, and Kyler Gordon. Kinchens could be the latest addition to this list, and he would likely be a day-one starter in Chicago.
Kitan Oladapo - Oregon State
Outside of a starting safety, the Bears could also use depth at the position, and Oladapo is a unique player who could slot in all across the back end of the Bears' defense. With the physicality to play up close and the range to cover down the field, Oladapo has the versatility to be a dependable backup in the NFL, especially after spending the last three seasons as a starter for Oregon State, where he totaled three interceptions and nearly 250 total tackles.
Oladapo will need to improve his techniques at the next level, especially in deep coverage against the faster receivers in the NFL, but there is a lot to like in the experienced prospect. Oladapo has shown a willingness to get down and dirty, sticking his nose into scrums with bodies much bigger than his own. He has the aggression in the run and pass game to make big plays as a reserve, and could develop into a more dependable player in due time.