Most of the focus for the Chicago Bears going into the 2020 draft will likely be on offense. That is where their most pressing needs still reside be it the offensive line, tight end, wide receiver, and even quarterback. That said, it’s unlikely GM Ryan Pace will completely ignore the defense at some point. They still have depth concerns on that side of the ball. A big one being at inside linebacker.
Being able to retain Danny Trevathan on a new three-year deal was a win for Chicago. However, they ended up losing both Nick Kwiatkoski and Kevin Pierre-Louis to other teams in free agency. That eroded a huge part of the Bears’ depth at the position. Not ideal considering both Trevathan and Roquan Smith ended the 2019 season on injured reserve.
That might explain why the team is rather active on the linebacker circuit in this 2020 draft class. One name they seem to have an interest in is Colorado’s Davion Taylor according to Justin Melo of The Draft Wire.
Chicago Bears likely see Trevathan in Taylor
Taylor is a newcomer to the game of football. His story is quite interesting. He didn’t get to play a lot in high school because of his family religion. Not until he turned 18 did he change his observance. He played a year in community college before being scooped up by Colorado. In two seasons as a starter, he delivered 129 tackles, 18 tackles for a loss, and two sacks. Impressive numbers for somebody with so little playing experience.
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When listening to discussions about his NFL prospect, it’s actually striking how similar Taylor is to Trevathan. Both are athletes known for being undersized but athletic and fast. There were also concerns about lack of understanding on how to read offenses.
Trevathan scouting report in 2012
“Trevathan is an undersized backer who can struggle to shed away from bigger offensive lineman…He can also be slow to diagnose plays at times; he needs to hit plays full speed to be effective.”
Taylor scouting report in 2020
“This player is raw, but has a lot of athleticism. When the play has declared, he gets to the football in a hurry, however, he is a bit slow to diagnose where the ball is going.”
It took Trevathan a year as a backup but he soon developed into a quality starter for the Denver Broncos. Now he’s a core stud for the Bears. Imagine the team putting a talent like Taylor under his wing. Given the similarities between the two, the rookie would be able to pick Trevathan’s brain on what it takes to reach that next level. Then when the time comes, the Bears would have their heir apparent.
