Remember how people were so upset the Chicago Bears didn’t pay enough attention to their pass rush in years past? Well that’s a distant memory. They already added Robert Quinn in free agency. A huge upgrade over Leonard Floyd. Then GM Ryan Pace decided to fortify the depth. How? He traded a 2021 4th round pick to the Vikings for pick #155, which he used to take Tulsa defensive end Trevis Gipson.
Most believe the kid is not where he needs to be yet in development. His football career got started late. However, his upside is said to be huge. He has the size, length, and athleticism teams look for in great edge rushers. Now he’ll get to play behind Quinn and Khalil Mack, making the Bears rush that much more dangerous.
“Gipson was a late bloomer so he is still a little behind in his fundamentals and technique. He doesn’t have go-to moves and counters, but the rush is real with a long, explosive first step and the athleticism and length to win the edge and harass the pocket. He needs better hand usage and lower body strength to handle himself at the point of attack, but he is a rangy tackler. Gipson isn’t NFL-ready yet, but he’s a potential diamond in the rough as a long-limbed defensive end in odd or even fronts.”
Chicago Bears have reasons to like Gipson
The kid certainly had a rapid rise over the past two years. He had four sacks and nine tackles for a loss as a junior. Then he delivered eight sacks and 15 tackles for a loss as a senior. It’s clear he was trending up in a big way. The best part is he saved some of his best performances for top competition.
- Two sacks and two tackles for loss against UCF
- A sack and two tackles for loss against Michigan State
- A sack and 3.5 tackles for loss against Houston
Ther is no denying the guy has talent and is discovering how to use it more and more each day. Getting a chance to learn from Mack and Quinn will only accelerate it.
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