Contrary to popular myth, the new United States Football League isn't made up entirely of scrubs. There are guys who should probably be on an NFL roster scattered among its eight teams. In such cases, players often preferred to play actual games rather than once again going through offseason programs knowing they may not get the opportunity they hoped for. Davin Bellamy is the perfect example.
He was a promising talent out of Georgia in 2018, collecting five sacks, 7.5 tackles for a loss, and two forced fumbles on a defense that helped the Bulldogs reach the national championship game. Yet that wasn't enough to get him drafted, and he spent the next four seasons bouncing around the NFL on various practice squads. He never managed to crack a regular season roster despite his persistent efforts.
So he made the unsurprising decision to try his hand in the USFL.
It took him one game to remind people he could play. The defensive end against the Philadelphia Stars
racked up three sacks and three tackles for a loss in a 23-17 victory. It was the best performance of any defensive lineman in Week 1 of the league's inaugural season. Bellamy also came in a 265 lbs, somewhat heavier than the 235 he played at in college. This proves that he can play at a more traditional defensive end weight.
[video width="1280" height="720" mp4="https://www.sportsmockery.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/New-Orleans-Breakers-defeat-Philadelphia-Stars-23-17-behind-rushing-attack-USFL-Highlights2022_04_18_09_31_42.mp4"][/video]
Nobody is saying Davin Bellamy will suddenly morph into a replacement for Khalil Mack. That is ridiculous. This is about depth. Teams can never have enough of it, especially at a premium position like edge rusher. Right now the Bears possess three players they can rely on based on their 2021 production. That is Robert Quinn, Trevis Gipson, and Al-Quadin Muhammad. However, don't forget Gipson will be playing an unfamiliar defensive end position after two years as an outside linebacker.
Bellamy would give the team a little extra flexibility. Much of this will depend on how he finishes his season with the Breakers. If it resembles anything close to his debut, the Bears absolutely need to consider giving him a look.
Loading comments...