Chicago Bears Looking Into More Help At Linebacker

One thing about this Chicago Bears regime led by Ryan Poles and Matt Eberflus is they love stacking linebackers. That shouldn't be a surprise. Eberflus played and coached the position himself. He also runs a defensive system where it's a position that needs high-end talent. So it's natural to expect they never stop looking for help. It appears the aftermath of the first preseason game has them eyeing more depth. A new name surfaced on their radar in the form of Isaac Darkangelo.

He is somebody they likely know well. The young linebacker made his name at Illinois before signing as an undrafted free agent with Detroit. After starring in Division II at Northern Michigan, he earned an opportunity to join the Illini in 2020. Darkangelo became a core special teams player for two years before finally getting his chance to start in 2022. He finished with 71 tackles, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and a sack in 13 games. His performance against Wisconsin is probably what he's best known for.

Darkangelo fits what the Chicago Bears seek. Mostly.

The linebacker has plenty of effort, intensity, grit, and intelligence to spare. He was a two-time Academic All-American. That shows on tape with his excellent instincts and ability to diagnose what the offense will do. That and his ability to trigger fast downhill and make the tackle will remind Bears fans a lot of Jack Sanborn. The primary concerns with him are his shorter stature (6'0 tall) and his average speed. Reports from his pro day said he ran a 4.60 flat in the 40-yard dash. That would've ranked in the bottom six at the combine.

This means the rookie would be a liability in coverage, both because of his limited length and lack of range. It is most likely the Chicago Bears see him as more of a possible asset on special teams. He has plenty of experience in that regard. It will be interesting to see if he gets signed and how much playing time the Bears give him in the final two games.