Brian Baldinger played in the NFL for a long time as an offensive lineman. He went against some great defensive tackles. Since retiring, he has spent years watching loads of new players come into the league. He has a more experienced eye than most for recognizing the good ones. That is why his surprising excitement with Jordan Van Den Berg was notable. Usually, a prominent analyst like Baldinger won’t bother much with later round picks. However, it appears the Chicago Bears‘ 6th round selection caught his eye.
He did one of his usual breakdowns of Van Den Berg’s Georgia Tech tape. It was far more impressive than he expected. The South African native is more capable than his draft status suggests. Baldinger sees explosion, quickness, core strength, and body control. All are critical to success in the NFL for somebody his size. It reminded him of another such player: a young Grady Jarrett. That feels like a prominent name to drop, considering the two-time Pro Bowler was a 5th round pick himself, and is also Van Den Berg’s new teammate.
Comparing Jordan Van Den Berg to Jarrett sounds lazy.
After all, them ending up on the same team together is an easy dot to connect. However, once you start looking at the measurables, the two line up well. Van Den Berg is slightly taller and heavier, but their length is exactly the same. Where things start diverging, and where Bears fans should get excited, is the testing numbers. Van Den Berg was superior to Jarrett in every category: 40-yard dash, 10-yard split, and vertical jump. He also had seven more reps on the bench press. This means he is stronger both in his upper and lower body.
| Metric | Grady Jarrett | Jordan van den Berg |
|---|---|---|
| Height | 6’1″ | 6’3″ |
| Weight | 294 lbs | 310 lbs |
| Arm Length | 32 1/8″ | 32 1/8″ |
| Hand Size | 10″ | 9 3/8″ |
| 40-Yard Dash | 5.06s | 4.94s |
| 10-Yard Split | 1.74s | 1.61s |
| Vertical Jump | 29.0″ | 36.0″ |
| Broad Jump | 9’0″ | 9’11” |
| Bench Press | 28 reps | 35 reps |
Now this alone doesn’t guarantee NFL success. Part of what made Jarrett so good was his ability to evolve as a player. That meant mastering technique and fundamentals to an extent where he had a counter for everything opposing blockers threw at him. That is often the last step many defensive linemen don’t reach. From what Baldinger says, Van Den Berg is already moving down that path.
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The Bears won’t make it easy for the rookie.
After all, the team made more than one addition to the defensive tackle room this spring. Neville Gallimore, Kentavius Street, and James Lynch all arrived via free agency in March. Remember, the Bears carried four defensive tackles on the depth chart last season. With Jarrett, Gervon Dexter, and Gallimore likely guaranteed roster spots, that means Jordan Van Den Berg must beat out Street and Lynch for the last one. Draft status alone won’t decide the outcome. This coaching staff is big on competition.
Not that such a thing will scare the rookie. He’s been an adult for some time, already owning his own business. This is a young man who took a gamble by leaving a prominent program like Penn State to chase playing time at Georgia Tech. It paid off. If he puts in the same focus this summer and listens to Jarrett’s tips, he should end up not just making the roster but getting serious playing time. After all, he is the most explosive player they have in the middle. The Bears would love to use it if they can trust him enough.
