The Chicago Bears and Ryan Pace don’t have the same plans as everybody else going into this draft season. Every other NFL team has at least a 2nd round pick at their disposal. The Bears have neither a 1st nor a 2nd. This of course is due to their trades for Khalil Mack and Anthony Miller the previous offseason. It’s not something they regret, but it does make their job for 2019 more challenging.
Their focus is likely to center on prospects that have at least a 50-50 chance of slipping into the late 3rd round range where their draft will finally begin. Few things will probably give them a better feel for how that could play out than the scouting combine. No event each year does a bigger job of elevating or dropping players on draft boards.
With the festivities around the corner, former scout Daniel Jeremiah now with NFL.com highlighted one player he feels every team should keep an eye on when the combine begins. The name he mentioned for the Bears was an interesting one.
“Sheldrick Redwine, S, Miami. Redwine took a step forward this past season and has the size and speed to potentially step into free agent Adrian Amos‘ position, even as a middle-rounder. The fact that he has interchangeable safety talents and can cover tight ends makes him worth a closer look for the Bears.”
Ryan Pace would be dipping into intriguing safety hotbed with this move
Sheldrick Redwine wouldn’t exactly be called a prospect with a huge buzz. However, in terms of pedigree, it’s something to take careful note of. The University of Miami might be one of the best programs in NFL history at producing great safeties. They’ve delivered no fewer than five eventual Pro Bowlers at that one position including Hall of Famer Ed Reed.
Subscribe to the BFR podcast and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
The interesting part is four of those five players all came from the state of Florida. Reed was the lone exception. So one could surmise the state is actually quite adept at producing standout athletes at defensive back. Redwine is from there as well and he certainly looks the part with a bigger frame, hitting ability, and a growing knack for making plays in coverage.
His final year at school he had three interceptions, a forced fumble, and three sacks. There is a definite versatility to his game. If the Bears do lose Adrian Amos to free agency, he would add depth to the roster at least with a chance to grow into something more. Chuck Pagano is a defensive backs specialist after all.
One last thing of note? The Bears were confirmed to have met with Redwine already at the Senior Bowl. So they’ve been aware of him for some time.
