The Chicago Bears draft Jamal Adams. Those are the words more than a few prominent draft experts can see happening April 28th. They feel the LSU safety is everything the Bears defense hasn’t had for too long. Their ongoing problems at that position stretch back an entire decade and were often a source of very painful defeats.
Adams was viewed as one of the top prospects in the entire draft from the beginning. His versatility and experience alone were exciting. Yet it’s his apparent leadership, instinct and work ethic that is really winning teams over in interviews of late. The only thing that was holding people back from believing he was a top five lock was his athleticism.
Make no mistake Adams is a fine athlete. He’s shown an ability to chase ball carriers down against the run or drop in coverage against tight ends. Still, top five picks must be reserved for players who exhibit “elite” traits. So far during the pre-draft process, Adams hadn’t done that. Then his pro day happened.
Why the Bears draft Jamal Adams prediction just got real
Experts were hoping that Adams would use the NFL scouting combine as his platform to solidify his top standing in the class. While his workout in general was solid, he didn’t exactly blow the roof off the place. The final tally of numbers was good but in the end there wasn’t much physically that stood out. Perhaps none more so than his pedestrian 4.56 time in the 40-yard dash.
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Critics soon came out of the woodwork stating that this proved he was a really good prospect but not top five worthy. Well it seems Adams took exception to those remarks. At the LSU pro day he decided to prove them dead wrong when he delivered a blistering 4.33 in the dash.
Jamal Adams was clocked at 4.33 at LSU pro day, and while it was more likely in the 4.4 range, he should be considered a top-five pick.
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) April 5, 2017
Jamal Adams just ran a sub-4.4 40 at LSU's pro day. Some reports have him running a 4.33. Sheesh. (Via @RosterWatch) pic.twitter.com/q3oDmcfiY9
— STACK (@STACKMedia) April 5, 2017
Though the number is unofficial and likely closer to the 4.4 mark, the fact is it’s still a significant improvement over his combine time. Now teams know for sure that he has some speed to his game. Another critical box checked. Add that to his physicality, his awareness and his leadership? Suddenly this sounds like a player worth taking high in the draft.
The fact he’s a safety, a position that has haunted the Bears for over a decade makes it that much more exciting.
It’s going to happen
There are plenty of reasons to believe the Bears are going to pull the trigger on Adams at #3. For starters their safety position is (still) bad. Adrian Amos, Deon Bush, and Harold Jones-Quartey among others failed to produce enough big plays in 2016. The addition of 32-year old Quintin Demps in free agency does little to settle peoples’ minds about the problem.
Then there is the fact both defensive coordinator Vic Fangio and GM Ryan Pace hold the safety position in high esteem. When Fangio was running the 49ers defense in San Francisco, they drafted Eric Reid in the first round in 2013. He went to LSU. They also signed Pro Bowl free agent Antoine Bethea a year later. Meanwhile in New Orleans, Pace watched the Saints drop a first rounder on Kenny Vacarro in 2013 as well. Then, a year later, they dropped a monster contract on free agent Jairus Byrd.
Throw in the fact that John Fox is a former defensive back himself? These are the exact sort of circumstances that can result in a safety becoming the third overall pick in a draft.
Ready for the final nudge? In NFL draft history, only three safeties have ever been selected in the top three picks. Two of those three went on to become Pro Bowlers. So the odds, limited as they are, most definitely are in the Bears’ favor. Sure the money considerations are a headache but this is about winning. If Jamal Adams can improve the defense that much, then no amount of money should matter.
It can happen and it just might happen barring a sudden change in 23 days.
