Bear Digest

Possible Day 3 Contributors to Watch

Analysis: Most rookies are role players initially and these five at the combine are players to watch for the Bears because of skill sets that allow them to get onto the field.
Gene Chamberlain|
Possible Day 3 Contributors to Watch
Possible Day 3 Contributors to Watch

In this story:

Chicago Bears

The 2023 NFL Draft is often cited as a great success for Bears GM Ryan Poles and it goes beyond the trade down for picks and DJ Moore.

Even in a successful draft, a team doesn't necessarily come away with a handful of Day 1 or Year 1 starters. That is, they won't unless they're awful and in total rebuild like the Bears were in 2022.

Out of a 10-player draft, only two wound up as starters last year: Tyrique Stevenson and Darnell Wright.

This isn't to criticize the effort in the draft by Poles as much as it is to point out how playing time is less available when a team improves. Rookies almost all need to come in and make themselves useful to get playing time befoer ever becoming starters. If they are niche players or backups, it's important because it contributes to the overall team effort while they wait before the chance to start.

Both fourth-rounders Tyler Scott and Roschon Johnson made significant rookie impacts, Scott with 17 receptions for 168 yards and four starts while Johnson didn't start but ran for 352 yards while catching 34 passes for 209 yards.

After those players, the only other rookies who started any games were defensive tackle Gervon Dexter with one and cornerback Terell Smith with four.

So when the Bears head to the combine with the draft in mind, it's important to keep an eye on players who figure in as Day 3 picks, if not potential third-rounders. The right ones can help out in supporting roles even if they aren't winning starting spots.

Here are some players unlikely to be drafted on the first two days who the Bears should keep an eye on because can be useful role players.

CB Daequan Hardy, Penn State

It's not that the Bears necessarily need another cornerback after adding two last draft but this might not even be a player they draft. Several projections put Hardy in the seventh round or not drafted. They need him for a niche purpose in the worst way. Hardy returns punts and was good enough last year that he took two back for touchdowns in the same game, averaged 14.6 yards per return and had opposing team punting it away from him or out of bounds. They could get use him in another way. At 5-10, 182, he also made five interceptions and 19 pass breakups and scouts are calling him an ideal fit in a cover-2 base zone defense. Watch for speed and jumping ability at the combine.

S Malik Mustapha, Wake Forest

Projections from Mock Draft Database call him fifth or sixth round material. It's always good to look at safeties there. The best thing about him is his versatility. Some scouting reports have suggested he'll be a box safety but that seems like an awfully limited use for a player so gifted in closing speed and coverage ability. He did a little of everything in college, so he has the coverage skills. He played 327 snaps deep, 375 in the slot and 811 in the box. But it wasn't in the box where his best plays seemed to show up. Watch for 40 time but in his case the three-cone drill will be really big if he runs it. With his versatility, he'd have no problem fitting in as a fill-in backup type in the secondary if he didn't win a stating spot.

TE Brevyn Spann-Ford, Minnesota

Projections for Spann-Ford say Day 3, possibly Round 5 and he brings all-around ability despite being 6-7, 270 pounds. He had 95 catches for 1,061 yards and seven TDs but the best thing about Spann-Ford and what makes him perfect to contribute right away as a rookie is his blocking ability. Several scouting reports call him tenacious. Any tenacious blocker on the edge at his size is someone who will be used. Strength and the on-field receiving and agility drills will be big for him. No one is predicting sub-4.5 40s for him but he's said to have good straight-line speed. With Marcedes Lewis 40 years old and a free agent, the Bears can use a good blocker as the third tight end for 13-personnel.

RB Jaylen Wright, Tennessee

Not exactly an unknown or late-rounder, he is a back the Bears should be looking at because he can take it to the house at any time as a bit undersized third-down type back. He is 200 pounds and 5-11. His 7.4-yard average last year says he'll outrace the secondary to the goal line and he finally got the opportunity last year to make an impact in the passing game and had 22 catches. He could be the back who the Bears use in third-down situations. Mock Draft Database projects Wright in Rounds 4 or 5.

DT Keith Randolph, Illinois

Lovie Smith knew his one-gap defensive tackles and was the one who recruited Johnny Newton, a likely first-rounder. If the Bears don't want to devote their ninth pick in Round 1 or trade down to get Newton, Randolph is a good alternative. He has nice size for a three technique at 6-3, 296. The speed projections on Randolph say a 4.95-second 40, which is also ideal. He had 4 1/2 sacks last year, a decent number for a defensive tackle considering they also had Newton making plays on the inside of the line.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven

Published
Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

Home/News