Plenty of people were surprised when the Chicago Bears selected Ruben Hyppolite in the 4th round. Most hadn’t heard of the Maryland linebacker up to that point. Some experts had him as a likely undrafted free agent. That made him an immediate reach in the fans’ eyes. Others inside the NFL felt he was good enough to be drafted. Given the lack of depth in the 2025 class, most teams were taking fliers on great athletes. It was a case of picking your preference. The Bears clearly liked Hyppolite.
What wasn’t known was where he’d fit on defense. With Jack Sanborn gone, most felt he might shift to strong-side linebacker in Dennis Allen’s new scheme. Others thought he’d stay at his original middle linebacker spot, serving as a backup to Tremaine Edmunds. That, too, might not be the case. Former tight end Clay Harbor pointed out the Bears moved Hyppolite to weak-side linebacker during OTAs. That leads to an interesting question.
Was one of the main reasons they drafted him a means to give T.J. Edwards competition?
Ruben Hyppolite is tailor-made for the weak side.
That position is designed for the speed linebackers. The rookie was clocked at 4.39 during his pro day. He can fly. Edwards has been a terrific player for the Bears. However, some feel he took a step back last year, not making the same number of plays. That didn’t stop Chicago from giving him a contract extension. That said, they may have felt the need for some insurance. Drafting Ruben Hyppolite doesn’t give them an immediate replacement, but it does provide a talented option they can develop for the next year or two. If Edwards stays good? That is fine. They will have Hyppolite waiting in the wings if he shows an obvious decline. It isn’t a bad idea. In the meantime, he should be able to contribute on special teams.
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