Can anybody truly say they know for certain who the Chicago Bears draft target will be for the #8 pick this April? Of course they can’t. Why? That’s because even the Bears themselves aren’t certain who it will be yet. The pre-draft process has only just begun. The Senior Bowl is over but the scouting combine and pro days are still to come. Those can have a significant impact on draft boards in the next couple months. Not to mention the ever-present risk of injuries and uncovered off-the-field shenanigans.
Nonetheless one can at least say certain names have begun to separate themselves from the pack. Names that stick out as likely top five or top 10 picks given their athletic prowess and college exploits. By now most people know the big names like USC quarterback Sam Darnold, Penn State running back Saquon Barkley, N.C. State defensive end Bradley Chubb and Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson.
The question ahead is who else will join them? Odds are a few names that weren’t being talked about a couple months ago will enter the conversation shortly. In fact, there’s one that shooting up boards at a remarkable rate. One that is almost certain to catch the eye of Bears fans both for his ability and who he was just compared to.
V-Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds draws Urlacher comp
Tremaine Edmunds wasn’t a huge name to start the 2017 season. This was largely because he played on a talented Virginia Tech defense and thus didn’t stand out as much. Soon though his tape and measurements have begun to make the rounds and teams are salivating over the possibilities. Edmunds is a rare physical specimen with near limitless upside. So much that draft expert Lance Zierlein of NFL.com gave him a big-time pro comparison.
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“NFL COMPARISON Brian Urlacher
BOTTOM LINE Edmunds combines elite size, speed, and explosiveness into a productive, versatile linebacker package that will have evaluators salivating. Edmunds has posted high-impact production over the last two seasons and he still has room to get bigger and better. Edmunds will make mental mistakes and his instincts are subpar, but he has an ability to mitigate those issues with his athletic ability. Edmunds can play in any alignment at any linebacker spot and has All-Pro potential no matter where he lands.”
Linebackers like Urlacher, not just in terms of athleticism but also size are extraordinarily rare. This is proven true by the fact Urlacher retired five years ago and it took that long for another possibility like him to appear. Edmunds was a force for Virginia Tech in 2017. He made 108 tackles, 14 of them for a loss, collected 5.5 sacks and forced three fumbles. There isn’t a linebacker position in any scheme he can’t play.
Urlacher comparison gets foggy between the ears
He can run sideline to sideline, makes snap decisions and flies to the football. He’s also got enough length to bring pass rush off the edge or carry a running back down the field in coverage. So from a purely physical perspective, the likeness to Urlacher is striking. That said what separated Urlacher from so many other middle linebackers was his brain. He was one of the smartest, most aware players on the field. A true quarterback of the defense.
Does Edmunds have that same capacity? Maybe. The only way to know for sure is to get him on a team and see how he develops. The good news is his athletic floor is that of a 10-year starter in the league. If he reaches even a modest level of his full potential he will have a couple Pro Bowls in his future. Health permitting, of course. Give him to a coach like Vic Fangio and the possibilities could be endless.
