NEWSLETTER
The Chicago Bears started Day 3 of the 2018 NFL Draft with a roll of the dice by drafting Western Kentucky linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
Finding linebacker depth was expected to be a priority after parting ways with Jerrell Freeman and deciding not to re-sign Christian Jones, but it would have made more sense had the Bears targeted an outside linebacker to replace the depth lost in letting go Willie Young, Pernell McPhee, and Lamarr Houston. Instead, the Bears added a player at a position of perceived strength. But as we all know, injuries can change that perception rather quickly.
THE PICK (ROUND 4, PICK 115)
NEED TO KNOW
HIGHLIGHTS
Go Legend – Official Highlight Tape…ENJOY! Shout out my main man @BrandenJWhitley you outdid yourself💯 pic.twitter.com/7iBuHPNS1f
— Joel Iyiegbuniwe (@ig_nacious_) February 16, 2018
NFL COMBINE RESULTS
THREE STRENGTHS
THREE WEAKNESSES
PRO COMPARISON: NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Iyiegbuniwe reminded him of Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Kwon Alexander during the network’s draft coverage. Alexander was a fourth-round pick in 2015 who made the Pro Bowl as a middle linebacker in 2017.
WHERE IYIEGBUNIWE FITS
With first-round pick Roquan Smith joining Danny Trevathan in the starting lineup, Iyiegbuniwe joins the reserves and gives the Bears depth at a position that could certainly use it.
Drafting Iyiegbuniwe reminds me of the Nick Kwiatkoski pick from a few years ago and I can see him following a similar path. Iyiegbuniwe playing in a pinch inside could even spring Kwiatkoski to some reps as an edge defender. And if Danny Trevathan has another injury riddled season, we might see more of Igyiegbuniwe than we expect. For now, his primary role will be as a back-up inside linebacker and a core special teams player.
PRESS INTRODUCTION
