Chicago Bears Meet Privately With 3 More Intriguing Defenders
The Chicago Bears have completed most of the pro day circuit. Now they must finish their remaining private visits before GM Ryan Poles can start assembling his board for the NFL draft on April 28th. It appears the recent string of updates is exclusively on the defensive side of the ball. That isn’t a huge surprise. The Bears defense was weak in several areas last season. If they want to tangle with the best in the NFC, they must close the talent gap as quickly as possible. It appears they have certain players they’re interested in.
We’ll start with one of the more overlooked defensive tackles in this draft. Jaquelin Roy didn’t get much attention at LSU because his sack numbers were pedestrian (4 in three years). However, evaluators think he’s being overlooked. They see a player with a high motor, excellent conditioning, brute strength, and good awareness. The belief is his lack of production comes from having started only one season. He needs technique work. The qualities are there for a solid interior defender.
Chicago Bears also focus on LBs and CB.
Despite adding two excellent linebackers in Tremaine Edmunds and T.J. Edwards, it appears the Bears would like to continue adding depth at the position. One player that has made the most of the pre-draft process is Marte Mapu of Sacramento State. He looked good at the Senior Bowl and has drawn the attention of several teams, including the Bears.
It’s not hard to see the appeal. He’s 6’3 with legitimate speed, able to play sideline-to-sideline, and is effective in coverage. The problem is he’s too light for a linebacker, making some wonder if he should be a safety instead. His future could be in a more hybrid role.
Last but not least is De’Jahn Warren. Deion Sanders helped elevate the Jackson State program last year, and Warren was one of the key players to help him do it. The cornerback is big, athletic, and tough. He tackles well for his position and shows the kind of hustle and relentless intensity this Chicago Bears regime covets. The only thing missing is mastery of his craft. His technique and discipline need refining. He also has a nose for the ball, snagging five interceptions during his final year of JUCO at Lackawanna College. This feels like a future undrafted free agent that will pay big dividends in two or three years.