The Chicago Bears defense is already one of the best in the NFL. It’s finished in the top 5 for two years straight and a big reason for that is their defensive front. Akiem Hicks is a star at defensive end. Eddie Goldman is one of the most overlooked nose tackles in the business. Roy Robertson-Harris and Bilal Nichols are more than serviceable defensive ends themselves. Combine that with Khalil Mack and now Robert Quinn on the edges? That is an embarrassment of riches on paper.
Yet ongoing buzz around Bears meeting with draft prospects suggest the team is wide open to adding more. One name that popped up on their list of interviews according to Justin Melo of The Draft Wire was Marlon Davidson. The Auburn defensive lineman had a good year in 2019, collecting 6.5 sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss. He then followed that with an outstanding performance at the Senior Bowl.
Could Chicago add him to their already impressive mix?
Chicago Bears have a defense made for Davidson
The problem people have with Davidson isn’t his work ethic, effort, or talent. It’s his odd body structure. He’s built like a bit of a tweener. Not quite a defensive end but not quite an outside linebacker. He’s also a bit undersized for defensive tackle. There is no question he has ability, but it may come down to landing in the right system that will know how to use it. Benjamin Solak of The Draft Network explained.
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“Davidson has great length throughout his frame but is not lacking for mass, which allows him to win the point of attack and squeeze boundary runs to the inside. Davidson presents a better outside pass-rush ability than you’d expect for a player of his weight: he throws his hands well to soften rush angles and has a wide base to rush with tilt and close on the quarterback.”
A common comparison made for Davidson is Matthew Judon of the Baltimore Ravens. Each has similar body types and skillsets. Judon isn’t a star but he’s become a consistently productive pass rusher with 24.5 sacks in the past three seasons. He made his first Pro Bowl this past season. If the Bears got somebody like that in Davidson, their front would be that much more imposing for it.
