Dominant FCS Pass Rusher Daniel Hardy Is On The Bears' Radar

The Chicago Bears have established a bit of a pattern lately regarding their pre-draft visits. One of them is meeting with a series of defensive end prospects that are widely considered either Day 3 picks (4th-7th rounds) or future undrafted free agents. It appears another name has surfaced over the past 24 hours. This one is Daniel Hardy, a defensive end from Montana State University. Justin Melo of The Draft Network was the first to break the news. At first glance, it isn't hard to understand why the Bears might like him. His pro day workout was impressive, with a 40-inch vertical jump and 4.57 time in the 40-yard dash. Coupled with his 34-inch arms, he checks some key boxes for this new regime. Matt Eberflus is known for coveting speed and lengths on defense. Hardy fits that profile.

Even more impressive is the stats.

The defender spent his time as a linebacker during his first three years. While not a bad player, his productivity never stood out much. So in 2021, his coaches convinced him to move to defensive end. He responded with a dominant year, including 16 sacks and 24 tackles for a loss. That excellence was a critical factor in Montana State making it to the national championship for the first time since 1984. His performance in the semifinal against South Dakota State (2 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble) was one for the history books. That he could do all of that in his first year at the position makes it even crazier. Keep this in mind. Hardy didn't start playing football until late in high school. So he was somewhat inexperienced before he even arrived in college. It speaks to his natural ability that he still found managed to excel at such a high level despite a late position switch.

Daniel Hardy is a tough projection for the Bears.

Draft experts like his mixture of length and burst. The problem they have with him is the size. At 235 lbs, he is exceedingly light for an NFL pass rusher. He would be a liability against the run having to match up with 300+ lbs offensive tackles. The goal would be for him to start packing on weight to correct this drawback. What isn't certain is whether his body can handle such a change without losing his trademark quickness and speed. Combined with his lack of polish and experience at his new position, it feels likely he will be either a late round pick or go undrafted. By meeting with him, the Bears are letting Daniel Hardy know they're interested. It is a creative tactic that teams often use to help lure players to their roster. Eberflus might envision him filling a similar role Justin Houston and Kwity Paye both did in Indianapolis.

Both stand only 6'2 but were able to handle weights between 260-270 lbs.

Hardy will be a project. That much is certain. It will likely take a year or two of work from coaches and training staff to morph him into what the Bears would want. Eberflus is no stranger to such challenges. He almost seems to embrace them. If he were able to unlock the full potential of this young man, he could be a steal.