One Draft Prospect At Every Position Who Fits The Matt Eberflus Profile

GM Ryan Poles has the final say on the Chicago Bears roster decisions. That is hardly uncommon. It is basically the same for most NFL teams. Where it gets foggy is how much say the head coach and his staff have in those decisions. From everything knows about the new power structure, Matt Eberflus has a strong partnership with Poles. The two work closely on everything involving personnel decisions. While Poles has the final say, Eberflus' opinion carries a lot of weight. That should help clarify where the Bears will focus their efforts in the upcoming draft.

The head coach has fielded the question multiple times. What kinds of players does he look for when building a roster? He provided variations of the same answer. He wants his roster to consist of three primary traits: speed, length, and physicality. That is what brought him success in Indianapolis. He believes it will do the same in Chicago. So here is a list of players at every position in the upcoming draft that fit his profile.

"We’re looking for a long, fast, physical football team that plays a certain style."

Matt Eberflus is sure to push Poles toward these names.

Running back: Roschon Johnson (Texas)

People never talk about one of the big reasons Walter Payton and Matt Forte were such dangerous pass-catchers during their careers. It was their long arms. Johnson's go over 33 inches along with a 6'2 frame. He runs with good power and violence while showcasing his versatility with 56 career catches. His body also had little wear and tear since he was primarily a backup.

Wide receiver: A.T. Perry (Wake Forest)

It is shocking how little buzz Perry has commanded despite posting back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons with 26 total touchdowns. He followed that up by dominating the East-West Shrine Bowl practices. The guy is 6'5 with long arms and has enough speed to threaten deep. He checks every box Matt Eberflus seeks.

Tight end: Payne Durham (Purdue)

Being 6'5 with long arms almost automatically gets a tight end in the door for NFL teams. The fact Durham was productive as a pass-catcher (over 1,000 yards with 14 TDs in 23 games) and showed out at the Senior Bowl led many to believe he was being underestimated. His athletic ceiling is modest, but the guy can play.

Offensive line: Joe Tippmann (Wisconsin)

When thinking about common NFL centers, most of them fit a similar profile. Probably around 6'3 with 32-33-inch arms. Tippman is a major outlier at 6'6 with arms projected to be 34+. He's also a good athlete on top of it, showcasing quality range in his run-blocking. As is typical of Badger linemen, he is plenty physical too.

Defensive line: Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech)

At 36 inches, Wilson makes the list for his arm length alone. History has a long track record of great pass rushers with that kind of reach. That overshadows how quick the defensive end is for his 6'6 size. He also brings plenty of power to the table too. He's still only scratching the surface of his potential. Once his arsenal of moves expands, he could become unblockable.

Linebacker: SirVocea Dennis (Pitt)

Luke Getsy singled out Dennis on multiple occasions during the Senior Bowl. It wasn't hard to see why. The linebacker was athletic and active in run support and pass coverage. His 33-inch arms also made him the longest off-the-ball linebacker in attendance. His production for the Panthers over the past three seasons (15 sacks, 36 TFLs, 231 tackles) speaks for itself.

Cornerback: Rejzohn Wright (Oregon State)

Teams always love 6'2 cornerbacks with long arms. Wright fits that mold. He is somewhat different in that he's also a remarkably fluid athlete for that size, regularly locking up receivers in man coverage. There is some uncertainty about his physicality, but Eberflus can change that with an adjustment in coaching.

Safety: Marte Mapu (Sacramento State)

Mapu turned heads at the Senior Bowl with his athleticism, length, and instincts. He seemed on top of everything happening, never getting caught off guard. His tape shows a physical nature as well. He comes across as a utility player who can fill various roles depending on the situation, be it safety or linebacker.