The Chicago Bears probably have a good idea of who they will take with their 1st round pick a few weeks from now. GM Ryan Poles is pretty good at reading how the board will fall. At this point, the big question for him is determining what to do in the 2nd round. While the Bears have two picks in that range, both are in the bottom half. Most experts agree the meat of this draft is between the 20th and 45th picks. That means if Poles wants to nab somebody of value, he’ll have to secure a spot in that area. That can be done by trading down from #9 for such a pick or up for #53.
Those details remain to be ironed out. Nobody can say who Poles may have in mind if the Bears do find their way into that pick range. One name that has been gaining steam in recent weeks is Adetomiwa Adebawore. He is a local prospect out of Northwestern who shined at the Senior Bowl and scouting combine, showcasing his rapidly-maturing game. The Bears have met with him multiple times in that period, including a private visit, according to Aaron Wilson of Click 2 Houston.
“Northwestern defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore is in heavy demand after acing the NFL scouting combine.
Adebawore visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers today after previously visiting the Chicago Bears and Atlanta Falcons, has an upcoming visit with the Seattle Seahawks and has working out privately for the New Orleans Saints, according to a league source.
He met with the Bears, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams privately around his Pro Day.”
Chicago Bears are likely using projection on Adebawore.
His two years as a starter for Northwestern weren’t anything special. He was a solid player with 9.5 sacks and 17.5 tackles for a loss. Several draft experts believe this is because the coaching staff had him out of position at defensive end. While he has good length, his skillset is a far better fit for inside at defensive tackle. There his quickness, short area explosion, and power can wreak havoc on guards and centers. That might explain why the Bears are so interested. They have a glaring need for an interior pass rusher.
Poles must determine what cost he is willing to pay if Adebawore is a target. Current projections have him going in the top half of the 2nd round. The Chicago Bears may have to package both of their 2nds together for a big enough move up the board to reach the territory they need. It would be a sacrifice, but if they feel Adebawore has star potential, then it’s worth it. After such a move, they’d still have seven more picks in the draft. Maybe more if Poles achieves his rumored goal of moving down in the 1st round again.
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