NEWSLETTER
Happy Senior Bowl Day!
College football’s premier all-star showcase game kicks off this afternoon and there are numerous players the Bears (and the other 31 teams) will have their eyes on for the purposes of the upcoming NFL Draft.
Some players are better fits for teams than others. Through that lens, Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report puts Senior Bowl Week standouts with teams that seem to be perfect matches.
It’s not odd that the Bears weren’t listed among the teams who were a perfect fit for the 10 players Davenport chose to highlight. After all, picking 10 players for 10 teams means there are 22 other teams who were left on the outside looking in. HOWEVER, it’s worth pointing out that the group of players features an edge defender, two offensive lineman, defensive back, and a wide receiver – all of which are positions of need for the Bears this offseason.
So with that in mind, let’s find some Bears fits.
DaeSean Hamilton, wide receiver, Penn State. Original fit: Packers.
DaeSean Hamilton could be to this year’s crop of Senior Bowl receivers what Cooper Kupp was to the class of 2018. Hamilton is trying to go 2-for-2 in being impressive on the college football all-star circuit. NFL.com’s Bucky Brooks called Hamilton “probably the best route-runner of the receivers” at the Senior Bowl, which could make him a value pick on Day 2 of the NFL Draft. Hamilton is CBSSports.com’s 19th rated receiver prospect.
Alex Coppa, offensive tackle, Humboldt State. Original Fit: Broncos.
Bears GM Ryan Pace has taken late-round fliers on small-school tackles twice in three drafts, but Tayo Fabuluje (drafted in 2015) is no longer with the team and Jordan Morgan (2017) spent his entire rookie season on injured reserve with a shoulder injury. Considering the Bears’ needs at the offensive line after injuries ravaged the position group last season, Coppa could be the kind of player who jumps onto the Bears’ radar after an impressive week of practice.
Checking in at 6-5 and nearly 300 pounds, Coppa has the build — and has shown the drive in this week’s practice — to step in at right tackle early in his NFL career.
He also did this to first-round edge defender prospect Marcus Davenport:
Humboldt State OT Alex Cappa blows UTSA DE Marcus Davenport off the ball on this run play (far side). Sheesh. pic.twitter.com/5qRFqi4wFH
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 23, 2018
Isaiah Wynn, offensive lineman, Georgia. Original fit: Falcons.
We highlighted Wynn leading up to the College Football Playoff title game and he didn’t do anything to be removed from our radar. Wynn played left tackle for the Bulldogs in 2017 and looked good doing so. He also has experience at guard, where he projects to play in the NFL. In college, Wynn has shown enough agility to get it done as a pass rusher and the ability to push through in the running game. Wynn is WalterFootball.com’s fifth-rated tackle and is projected to go in the second or third round.
Marcus Davenport, edge, University of Texas-San Antonio. Original fit: Raiders.
Davenport put up some mighty fine numbers in 2017, picking up 8.5 sacks, 55 tackles, and 17 tackles for loss as a senior. He entered Senior Bowl Week trending in the right direction, but the video above in which he lost a battle to offensive line prospect Alex Coppa isn’t going to do his public perception any favors. Still, Davenport is one of the best pass-rushing prospects in college football.
So in the interest of fairness, here is Davenport unleashing his swim move in practice:
UTSA's Marcus Davenport, who notched 9 sacks this season, uses his swim move here to get to the QB! #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/IRNwYQtOxe
— Pro Football Focus (@PFF) January 25, 2018
Davenport checked in at 6-6, 260 pounds and looks the part of a stud pass rusher. Pro Football Focus’ most recent mock draft has him going to the Buffalo Bills with the 22nd overall pick, but has been mocked elsewhere to go in the top 15.
Luke Falk, quarterback, Washington State. Original fit: Patriots.
As far as I’m concerned, the last thing the Patriots need is a developmental quarterback prospect who can extend their dynasty. And while the Bears aren’t in the market for a starting quarterback, the team should be checking in on potential backups for Mitch Trubisky. That’s where Falk fits, and he’s looked the part of a being a capable quarterback throughout the practice week. The Bears met with Falk earlier in the week, so his status will be worth keeping a close eye on when draft weekend rolls around.
Falk will not play today after leaving Friday to attend the memorial service for Tyler Hilinski.
