I’m back with part five of the Chicago Bears draft targets. So far, Josh Buckhalter and I have looked at running backs, cornerbacks, offensive lineman, and wide receivers. Today we’ll be taking a look at some possible safeties the Bears could look to select in the upcoming NFL draft.
The Bears don’t have an immediate need at safety. They have Eddie Jackson, whose spectacular season last year led him to be selected first-team All-Pro, as well as the Pro Bowl. The Bears, unfortunately, did lose former starting safety, Adrian Amos. However, they were able to replace him with former Green Bay Packers and Washington Redskins safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. Clinton-Dix only signed onto the Bears for one year. That means he will be a free agent at the end of next season. With that being said, the Bears could opt to draft a safety to groom and learn behind Clinton-Dix and Jackson.
Jackson is a ball-hawking safety who is one of the best playmakers at his position. The Bears should target a player who is multi-dimensional with his abilities. Someone who can not only make plays in the passing game but also play in the box and stop the run. Here are some possible targets for the Bears.
Chicago Bears Draft Targets: Safety
Mike Bell – Fresno State
Mike Bell became a starter during his redshirt sophomore year and never looked back. While he didn’t put up eye-popping numbers, he still was able to muster a good college career. He had his best season as a junior, as he was named to the all-Mountain West second team. He finished the year with 86 tackles, three tackles for loss, and added three interceptions.
Bell is a good athlete out of the safety position. While he’s not the fastest or most agile, he makes up for it with his instincts and his IQ. He’s a sound tackler and a very good run defender who has the versatility to play on the line of scrimmage. He would complement Jackson very well in the back end, as he would allow Jackson to be a playmaker in the back end while making an impact for his own in the run game.
Fresno State safety Mike Bell is an interesting study. His combine was awful (ran a 4.83) but he has good instincts and anticipation to play over the top. Here he comes from center field to break up the pass. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/xONfLB9PJ9
— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) March 20, 2019
Sheldrick Redwine – Miami
Sheldrick Redwine definitely has one of the best names for prospects in this upcoming draft. Redwine is a versatile defensive back who was mostly a cornerback in his first two seasons. After his sophomore season, he made the move to safety, where he played well alongside his former high school teammate and fellow NFL draft hopeful Jaquan Johnson. His senior year was his best season, as he was named an All-ACC honorable mention. He accumulated 64 total tackles, three and a half tackles for loss, three sacks and three interceptions.
Redwine tested very well athletically at the combine. He ran a 4.44 40-yard dash and finished with a vertical jump of 39 inches. Like Bell, he’s a solid tackler and is a capable run defender at the safety position. He’s also shown the ability to hit hard. The knock on Redwine is his inconsistency in coverage. Fortunately for him, that is something that he will work on as he continues to develop. With his great athleticism and versatility, he’s able to move around and play corner if there are injuries. In addition, he also has the potential help the Bears on special teams.
Another safety out of Miami is Sheldrick Redwine. He’s got perfect size at 6’0 196 lbs. and ran a 4.4 40. He moved over from corner his junior season and was extremely versatile as a tackler and was decent in coverage. Had some iffy moments but it’s all correctable stuff. pic.twitter.com/rrMGbHwHXB
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) April 6, 2019
Andrew Wingard – Wyoming
Andrew Wingard was a starter as soon as he stepped on campus at the University of Wyoming. He was immediately able to produce. Wingard stands 11th all-time in FBS history in total tackles with 454. He had his best year in his junior season, where he was able to put up some spectacular numbers. Wingard finished the season with 114 total tackles and five interceptions.
Wingard is another guy who isn’t a great athlete but has a high I.Q. and plays with great passion. He has shown that he can tackle and has the stats to back it up. He also is good against the run. The major knock on Wingard is his athleticism. He doesn’t have the speed and quickness of a prototypical safety. With receivers being able to run at 4.3-4.5 speed, he could have some issues keeping up with them. However, his production in college and the ability he’s shown should peak the Bears interests.
Meet the man with the most tackles in the 2019 NFL draft class: Andrew Wingard of @WYO_Football
Learn More about Andrew: https://t.co/WaQfLtFZTw pic.twitter.com/JHxyZuZl3n
— Stack Sports (@StackSports) April 5, 2019
Last Word on the Safeties
Like I discussed above, safety isn’t really a position of need at the moment for the Bears. However, with Clinton-Dix only on a one-year deal, they could look to find his replacement with one of their later round picks. All of these guys would complement very well with Jackson, and give the Bears a formidable safety tandem for many years to come.
