Bears Defensive Big Board

Similar to yesterday a ranking of the defensive talent in the draft, with no positions omitted as the Bears could draft anything on defense.

This list will be combined with the offensive list to create the top 40.

1. CB Morris Claiborne [LSU]
2. DE Quentin Coples [UNC]
3. DT Michael Brockers [LSU]
4. LB Luke Keleuchy [Boston College]
5. DE Melvin Ingram [South Carolina]
6. CB Dre Kirkpatrick [Alabama]
7. DT Devon Still [Penn State]
8. S Mark Barron [Alabama]
9. DE Nick Perry [USC]
10. DE Chandler Jones [Syracuse]
11. LB Zach Brown [UNC]
12. DE Whitney Mercilus [Illinois]
13. DT Fletcher Cox [Mississippi St]
14. CB Janoris Jenkins [Northern Alabama]
15. DE/OLB Courtney Upshaw [Alabama]
16. LB Donta Hightower [Alabama]
17. DE Vinny Vurry [Marshall]
18. CB Alfonso Dennard [Nebraska]
19. DT Dontari Poe [Memphis]
20. S Harrison Smith [Notre Dame]

DE Andre Branch [Clemson] ?

I don't care what anyone says.

Zach Brown>Luke Keleuchy

I'd take him over anyone on that list other than Claiborne, Coples, Ingram and Kirkpatrick. I know I'm a Tarheels fanboy, but I am just incredibly high on what Brown could do in our system.

Also, Harrison Smith belongs nowhere near any top 20 D player list, and this is coming from a big Harrison Smith fan. He's underrated, no doubt, but not THAT underrated.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lklrlolnlilklsox

I don't care what anyone says.

Zach Brown>Luke Keleuchy

I'd take him over anyone on that list other than Claiborne, Coples, Ingram and Kirkpatrick. I know I'm a Tarheels fanboy, but I am just incredibly high on what Brown could do in our system.

Also, Harrison Smith belongs nowhere near any top 20 D player list, and this is coming from a big Harrison Smith fan. He's underrated, no doubt, but not THAT underrated.

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Nail on the head there...

Starting LB is not as big a hole as other positions are, but man I'd love to have ZB in some pipe dream scenario. He'd start immediately over Roach, learn the ropes from 2 pro-bowlers, and take over WLB when Briggs is done. He's pretty much the IDEAL 4-3/Cover-2 OLB for our system and adds pass rush ability that Briggs doesn't have. In fact, IF (and I know this won't happen) some team wanted to trade their ZB-available pick for Briggs this year, I'd take that deal and free up millions more in cap space...especially if Briggs sulks some more about being "underpaid and unappreciated".