Chicago Bears Leaked Significant Info On Their Draft Approach

The Chicago Bears haven’t offered any details on which players they want in the 2023 draft. That isn’t a surprise. Keeping such information contained is beneficial to possibly landing those players. However, the organization has become remarkably forthright when it comes to letting fans in on their evaluation process. That was never clearer than during their latest episode of 1920 Football Drive. It covered the blockbuster trade between the Bears and Carolina Panthers for the #1 pick.

Then it went into detail about their expanded analytics department and how that factors into all of their personnel decisions. It was a fascinating education on how the numbers-based approach can be beneficial. During one brief video sequence, fans are introduced to a grid of every position on a football field. Beneath each position is a list of priority traits they look for in players.

Here is what it reveals about how the organization thinks.

We now know the Chicago Bears’ preferences.

Running back: Burst and acceleration

The wide-zone offense is predicated on getting the back to the edges. From there, it falls on them to diagnose the line of scrimmage and pinpoint where the running lane will be. The hard part is getting through it. That is where the burst and acceleration come in. It’s why the Bears kept Khalil Herbert over David Montgomery. Herbert doesn’t have Montgomery’s power or versatility, but it’s his ability to plant his foot and slash through holes that are superior. He is a natural fit for the system, as is new arrival D’Onta Foreman.

Wide receiver: Release

People talk about route-running and speed. Those factors are important too, but the hardest to master is the initial steps at the line of scrimmage to break free of defensive backs in tight coverage. Having a good release is difficult for a receiver. It can mean the difference between a foot of separation and a yard of separation. Watch guys like Davante Adams and Antonio Brown. They were masters at it, and neither was considered the fastest to ever play the position.

Tight end: Hands

Blocking is important for any tight end, but history shows the Chicago Bears’ offensive scheme demands they be reliable pass catchers more than anything. Think Shannon Sharpe in Denver, Owen Daniels in Houston, and George Kittle in San Francisco. Those three are the shining examples of tight ends in the outside-zone system at its best. It’s why Robert Tonyan was a significant signing. He’s proven a reliable weapon in the passing game for Green Bay and may offer a dimension Cole Kmet doesn’t.

Offensive tackle: Pass protection

Run blocking is fine and all but the best teams in the NFL win in the playoffs because their tackles can pass protect. Look at the Philadelphia Eagles. Lane Johnson is the best right tackle in the league—an elite pass protector. Jordan Mailata isn’t at that level, but he’s more than adequate on the left side too. The Bears have shown considerable interest in Tennessee right tackle Darnell Wright recently. It shouldn’t be a surprise. His pass protection was among college football’s best last season.

Defensive tackle and Edge rusher: Explosion/Initial quickness

Matt Eberflus’ defensive scheme is 4-3 in origin, based around the Tampa-2 system made famous by Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith. It’s a scheme that requires the front four to do the heavily-lifting when rushing the passer. That means the linemen must be able to shoot gaps and get up the field. That can’t be done without explosion or quickness. Think Aaron Donald at defensive tackle and Von Miller at edge. Those are the guiding lights when thinking about these traits. It’s why Dominique Robinson was a target for the Bears in last year’s draft. His 41-inch vertical jump demonstrated that lower-body explosion they look for.

Linebacker: Key & Diagnose/Instincts

A lot is required of linebackers in a Tampa-2 system. They don’t just play downhill. They must go sideline-to-sideline and are especially needed in coverage. That requires a player who can read what the offense is doing pre-snap and post-snap and then be able to make a snap decision based on that read. Brian Urlacher was a master at this. People talked about his freakish athleticism. Aaron Rodgers always said it was his brain that made him a Hall of Famer. Nobody could fool him. This is why the Bears targeted guys like Jack Sanborn, Tremaine Edmunds, and T.J. Edwards. They play with their heads.

Cornerback: Ball skills

Some teams prioritize speed and fluidity in their corners. That is because both are vital for man coverage duties. Eberflus is different. His scheme is built around one thing: turnovers. The more you force, the better your chances of winning. Cornerbacks are a huge part of that, with the ability to snag interceptions. Think Charles Tillman and Ronde Barber. Neither were elite athletes, but they were masters at taking the ball away. When evaluating corners in this draft class, always keep a close eye on how effective they were with takeaways. Kyler Gordon had two interceptions and two forced fumbles in his final 15 games at Washington.

Safety: Key & Diagnose

While good coverage is an obvious requirement for safeties, this Bears scheme also depends on them playing a significant role near the line of scrimmage. They must be able to read where the ball is going on runs or screens and trigger downhill to make the tackle. This is why they loved Jaquan Brisker coming out of Penn State. His ability to recognize what offenses were doing before the snap and move to take advantage was a core strength of his game.