Thursday, March 28, 2024

The Bears Have Been Strangely Quiet At This Position So Far

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It’s been stated time and again that the Chicago Bears brain trust will reveal nothing before the NFL draft. Truly it’s almost comical how good they’ve become at limiting any rumors regarding their intentions. Of course, the campaign of secrecy last year before the Mitch Trubisky pick was brilliant. Odds are GM Ryan Pace is conducting many of the same maneuvers regarding any favorite prospects this year.

So who might they be? Again, that’s beyond difficult to say. Everybody has a theory and each theory carries some merit. It’s Quenton Nelson because of his connection to O-line coach Harry Hiestand. It’s Bradley Chubb because they desperately need a pass rusher. Or it’s Tremaine Edmunds because he’s a freak of nature and Pace likes those.

Often in these situations, it’s best to look not at the positions of need so much as the positions that haven’t seen much action prior to the draft. In examining the Bears’ work to this point, there is one area that has been conspicuously silent for over a month.

Chicago Bears have remained radio silent at safety

Remember that this is Pace, right? In three previous off-seasons, he has frantically reworked the safety position. In 2015 he signed Antrel Rolle. A year later it was Deon Bush and DeAndre Houston-Carson. This past season he signed Quintin Demps. So far in 2018 though? Nothing. To date, the only move made was cutting Demps after his injury-shortened season last year.

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This is curious for a number of reasons. For one both Houston-Carson and projected starter Adrian Amos are free agents next year. The defense doesn’t have a ton of veteran experience at the position. Last but not least, there are several notable names still on the market who remain untouched. This would seem to signal the Bears have big plans for safety in the draft.

This might surprise some people after how Amos played last year and the arrival of Eddie Jackson. However, there was a rumbling not too long ago that the Bears were searching for somebody new. One must not forget that Amos was benched last year. If Demps hadn’t gotten hurt, he never would’ve seen the field again. This would lead one to believe Vic Fangio may not be his biggest fan.

Combine that with a strong safety crop in the draft and it raises all sorts of intrigue about what the Bears may actually have planned for their #8 overall pick.

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