The Chicago Bears continue to load up on defense, doing so while sacrificing future draft capital in the process. At least the Bears project to get several comp picks next year …
The Bears just traded a 2021 4th rounder to the Minnesota Vikings (of all teams) to get another 5th rounder this year, and with the selection, Chicago selected Tulsa defensive end Trevis Gipson. The Bears announced him as an OLB, though, and you can safely assume he’s in the edge mix.
Gipson, listed at 6-3 and 261 pounds when he checked in at the Scouting Combine, was a first-team all-conference performer in the American Athletic Conference. He picked up 8 sacks and 15 tackles-for-loss as a senior. In the year prior, Gipson tied for second in college footballs with five forced fumbles in a season in which he added four sacks and nine tackles-for-loss as a junior. That’s the type of production I can imagine becoming enamored with easy.
To be clear, Gipson is a bit raw. But he comes from an athletic family (mom ran track at North Texas, dad played basketball at Texas) and has desirable size. And at minimum, Gipson projects to bring additional depth to the Bears’ group of pass-rushers. Gipson appears to be something of an insurance policy behind Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn – if one goes down or needs time, the effectiveness of the other could drop. In that respect, “insurance” is a little more valuable. And I’ve been known to suggest that there’s no such thing as having too many pass-rushers.
For what it’s worth, NFL.com’s Draft profile lists his pro comparison as Roy Robertson-Harris, a player Bears fans have grown to love in recent years. Welcome to the squad, new guy.
More later.