Size and Speed at Middle Linebacker

Jack Sanborn made quite the splash last year for a player no one drafted, and for someone coming to a team where middle linebacker is legacy.

"He had a lot of tackling production," Bears coach Matt Eberflus said. "His instincts we saw and we saw that during training camp. So we were excited about that.

"He's an impactful player and we're excited to have him."

Still, it was only six games and hardly a definite course for the Bears' future. Besides, the defense didn't exactly flourish with any of the front seven players they had on the field last year.

With huge amounts of money to spend on what they really need, the Bears can be expected to look for Sanborn's job competition in free agency and possibly even the draft.

One thing you can't argue with is athletic ability, experience and production. One player who fits the Bears need and what they want from a middle linebacker is Cincinnati Bengals free agent middle linebacker Germaine Pratt.

He's about 5 pounds heavier than Sanborn at 241, is 6-foot-2 and brings something else Eberflus and coordinator Alan Williams covet—speed. He ran a 4.57-second 40 coming into the league. Sanborn was at 4.73.

The Bears need two speedy linebackers in this system if not three, and right now have none under contract. At least they have none with substantial experience. They do have Sterling Weatherford and practice squad types Kuony Deng and DeMarquis Gates.

Not only that, but the thing the Bears require more than anything from a linebacker is making plays on the ball. In the last two seasons, Pratt made three forced fumbles and three interceptions. That was better production than Roquan Smith had for his last two seasons in Chicago.

Pro Football Focus said Pratt had a coverage grade of 90.1 last year, the best in the NFL. Sportradar put him at 4.8% missed tackles, an extremely low figure. PFF said two missed tackles came on pass plays.

Many of the Bears linebackers have been in the range of 225 to 230 pounds because it's extremely hard to find bigger linebackers who possess the kind of speed needed for the Tampa-2 zone. But if you find them, a 4-3 team needs this kind of size/speed ratio because it can increase chances at disruption and takeaways.

Pratt helped make one of the defining plays of the 2022 postseason when he smashed into Ravens QB Tyler Huntley low as teammate Logan Wilson hit him high to pop the ball into the air. Sam Hubbard recovered and took it the length of the field for a touchdown.

Lance Briggs was a 244 pounds, Brian Urlacher 258 and Hunter Hillenmeyer 238 when they played this system.

Pratt, a third-round pick from North Carolina State, might be available because the Bengals have a lot of contracts to deal with, including possible extensions for Wilson and Tee Higgins.

The projected contract for Pratt by Pro Football Focus is $8.25 million a year for three years while Spotrac.com says $10.6 million a year.

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