Jonathan Allen, Mitch Trubisky and Jamal Adams are all common names that have been frequently attached to the possibility of getting selected by the Bears with the third overall pick. Malik Hooker is another intriguing name but has seemingly fallen out of Chicago's range recovering from surgery.
Ironically enough though, there's another player out there that nobody has really attached to the Bears yet and I'm not sure why. He's a red shirt sophomore considered an "uber athlete" and is unanimously voted the best player at his position in this draft class. He played for an elite school, an elite head coach and his draft profile directly compares him to a two-time Pro Bowler.
Do you know who I am referring to? (picture above should have given it away)
Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore seems to be flying up draft boards and was recently predicted to land as high as the #2 pick by NFL.com. The averaged sized (6-1, 192 lbs.) DB from the Big 10 has already been pegged as a future "top cornerback" in the NFL by a pro personnel director.
“I’ve studied the top cornerbacks coming out and he’s the best I’ve seen. He’s so athletic that he can just post up under the receiver’s chin and shadow him all over the field. And he’s tough, too. He’ll be one of the top cornerbacks pretty quickly.” -- Pro personnel director for AFC teamThis information should have the Bears salivating with the third overall pick. Tracy Porter, the best cornerback currently playing for the Bears, is getting old and regressed last season. Kyle Fuller, the former first round pick, is a cut-candidate after failing to impress John Fox's coaching staff for the last two years. Cre'Von LeBlanc was an interesting rookie to watch, but his initial draft stock had a huge note attached to it reading "too small to play outside" and scouts accurately predicted he wouldn't be drafted. In a division that features arguably the best physically talented quarterback in the league and a former number one overall pick, it's clear the Chicago Bears desperately need help in the defensive backfield. The team only had eight interceptions in 2016 resulting in one of the worst totals in the league and they were the eighth worst team in football when it came to fantasy points given up against opposing receivers. Now, I know the safety Adams from LSU is a popular choice as well, but he would not be capable of covering elite NFL wide receivers one on one. That is what Lattimore brings. He will be able to follow Jordy Nelson anywhere on the field and lock him down. Compared to Vontae Davis and he hasn't even played an NFL game yet, Lattimore received the highest "coverage" grade of any other defensive back in the class. Matter of fact, if you study his weaknesses, the only real concern is his hamstring injury history. He reportedly corrected the issue in 2015 with surgery and showed everyone how well he recovered in 2016 with four interceptions and nine pass breakups. Here is what the "bottom line" says in his draft profile:
"Average-sized, one-year starter with explosive athleticism and a loaded tool box. He has the feet, hips and agility to be a lockdown cornerback and the ball skills to make teams pay for looking in his direction. His lack of experience could show up early, but he has the confidence and competitive nature that should help him overcome those issues. He has the ability to become a Pro Bowl cornerback early in his career."Allen from Alabama is a popular choice too, he's actually graded higher by Mel Kiper, but Lattimore is another very fascinating option that could fill the gaping hole Charles Tillman left. Stay tuned for the combine.
