It feels like a foregone conclusion that the Chicago Bears will draft a pass rusher. They have to. Yannick Ngakoue is gone and they haven’t added anybody to replace him. The only uncertainty is when. Head coach Matt Eberflus may wish for them to do it with the 9th overall pick next month. However, that isn’t certain. If the scenario doesn’t play out, he and his defensive staff would be wise to look hard into possible alternatives the team can grab in the 3rd or 4th rounds, which is where the next picks are located.
One name seems to have caught their attention, according to Tony Pauline of Sportskeedia.
“Edge-rushing linebacker Jaylen Harrell timed 4.68 seconds in the 40, a good mark for him, as well as 4.33 seconds in the short shuttle. He looked terrific in pass-rushing drills and more than held his own in coverage drills. Michigan coaches have spoken highly of Harrell to NFL teams for his leadership and character. He met extensively with the Los Angeles Rams, Chicago Bears, and Las Vegas Raiders.”
It can be easy to get lost on a national championship-winning roster. That is the case for Harrell. The Michigan defense was loaded with talent, but he was a big contributor to their success last season. His big performances against Penn State and in the Big Ten championship against Iowa were crucial to keeping them on course to a championship. His 6.5 sacks and nine tackles for a loss were both career highs, indicating an ascending player.
Matt Eberflus would be getting a project in Harrell.
Most draft evaluations indicate the young man is somewhat of a tweener. He plays the game like a linebacker but has the body of a thin defensive end. He’s a good athlete and has made considerable progress as a pass rusher. His arsenal of moves deepened as a senior. That said, he still needs a lot of work. He doesn’t have the strength necessary to set the edge against the run or deliver a good bull rush. Unless he can add the necessary muscle for that, his future will be as a situational pass rusher. He has the quickness and length for that.
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One thing about Matt Eberflus is he’s never afraid to take on developmental projects. Kemoko Turay, Tyquan Lewis, and Dayo Odeyingbo were such examples. All of them became productive players to varying degrees. Harrell has the necessary physical traits to carve out a career in the NFL. He also seems to have the character traits they look for. They might have him circled as a possible depth option they can scoop up early on Day 3. He’d at least give them some flexibility off the edge.
