The Chicago Bears may be focused on the quarterback issue and fixing the offensive line, but don’t be fooled. GM Ryan Pace is a defensive guy at heart. He’s never going to stop adding pieces to that side of the ball at every opportunity. He did a strong job in the draft last year with the arrival of Jaylon Johnson. Could he be looking to find another hidden gem in the 2021 class?
One area that is a concern for them is edge rusher. Khalil Mack remains a stud but is approaching his 30s. Robert Quinn is already there and was a massive flop last season. Barkevious Mingo is a free agent and Trevis Gipson didn’t show much during his rookie campaign. Adding another body to the mix for depth and competition might be wise.
They may have eyes for one name in particular.
Jim Nagy, director of the Senior Bowl, revealed that a number of teams had sent coaches to the Oklahoma pro day with the express desire to work out edge rusher Ronnie Perkins. Among them were representatives from the Bears. A solid indicator they’re at least intrigued by the Sooners defensive end. Given his track record, it’s not too hard to see why.
Teams with coaches at Oklahoma pro-day to workout EDGE Ronnie Perkins:
* Bears
* Bengals
* Jaguars
* Panthers
* Steelers— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) March 12, 2021
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Perkins was solid in 2018 and 2019, collecting 11 sacks and 21.5 tackles for a loss in 26 games. Then in 2020, he seemed to really turn up the juice. In just six games, he had 5.5 sacks and 10.5 tackles for a loss. A surefire sign he was playing his best football. While not the biggest guy or a freak athlete, Perkins separated himself thanks to his violent hands and relentless motor.
Chicago Bears like eyeing Perkins on Day 3
While his production speaks for itself, players like Perkins don’t go early in the draft. It’s much more likely the Bears view him as a strong possibility in the later rounds. Remember they have five picks between the 5th and 7th rounds this year. So they must think there is a good possibility Perkins will end up somewhere in that area. He would certainly make for an intriguing addition to their depth chart.
Q: How good was Ronnie Perkins #Bedlam performance?
A: Very, very pic.twitter.com/Z9lGmneX7u
— Eddie Radosevich (@Eddie_Rado) November 23, 2020
Somebody who can push Gipson as they try to get younger at outside linebacker. If nothing else this is a sign the Bears don’t plan to stop injecting youth into their defense. Guys like Mack, Akiem Hicks, and Kyle Fuller are getting up there in years. Their peaks aren’t going to last much longer. Building the depth chart behind them is a wise precaution previous regimes failed to accomplish.
Don’t be surprised if other names surface in the coming weeks.
Perkins is the kind of guy the Chicago Bears tend to like. High character, football intelligent, plenty of instincts, and gets the most out of the talent he has. One of those guys who always seems to make something happen when asked to step up. People like him tend to survive in the NFL, not because of their outrageous ability but their elite work ethic and desire. Having guys like that on the roster is rarely a bad thing.
