The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft couldn’t have gone better for the Chicago Bears, who heading into Day 2 armed with a pair of second-rounders has plenty of first-round talent still on the board.
Heading into Round 2, there are a wealth of safety prospects — including some first-round talent — available. And considering the Bears are looking for safety Eddie Jackson’s running mate at strong safety, Chicago would do well to consider these players.
Here are five safeties that are still on the board heading into Day 2 that Chicago should target, if they fall to them at pick 43.
1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama
It’s hard to believe that, after Round 1, arguably the best safety prospect is still on the board heading into Day 2. While the Bears should lock him up in an instant, there’s a good chance he doesn’t fall 10 spots to Chicago at No. 43. But on the off chance he does, Xavier McKinney would bring athleticism, instincts and versatility to the safety position opposite Eddie Jackson.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, McKinney is an “ascending safety prospect offering a combination of plus athleticism, field awareness and versatility. McKinney split time equally at slot, free safety and in the box and is accomplished in each. His coverage instincts, athleticism and quick-twitch burst are more cornerback than safety, which is why he’s likely to be a coveted toy for teams looking to upgrade and diversify their sub-packages. He can sit in center field all day if needed, and he’s an adequate open-field tackler but has room for improvement in that area. McKinney represents the new breed of versatile, matchup safety with high upside as an early starter.”
2. Grant Delpit, LSU
Another one of the top safety prospects still on the board after Day 1 is LSU’s Grant Delpit, whose stock has fallen due to missed tackles and a down year following his 2018 campaign. But make no mistake about it, Delpit is a first-round talent that has dropped to the second round, and the Bears shouldn’t hesitate to take him if he’s around by pick 43.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Delpit is an “aggressive, urgent striker with good upside who posted a disappointing follow-up to an exciting 2018 campaign. His evaluation requires a full load of 2018 tape, where his coverage potential was better illustrated. He transitions with instinctive eyes and plays physically against tight ends. Willingness to rush in and hit has never been a problem in the alley or in his fits, but tackle inconsistencies have plagued him throughout his career due to angles and technique that could be challenging to fix. LSU sources say NFL teams won’t be getting the alpha leadership Jamal Adams provided for the Tigers, but Delpit should find a starting role early in his career as a versatile safety with big nickel potential.”
3. Antoine Winfield Jr., Minnesota
The Bears have done their homework on Winfield in this pre-draft process — even meeting with the Minnesota safety — and if Winfield is still on the board when No. 43 rolls around, it would be an absolute steal for Chicago. Winfield in an instinctive defensive back with the playmaking ability to match. While he played mostly at the free safety spot during his collegiate career, which Eddie Jackson is expected to return to this season, Winfield has experience playing multiple positions.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, “Winfield isn’t as tall or as long as teams like and he’s an average athlete, but he’s an interchangeable safety who can flat out play. Winfield is stout and strong with above average body control and balance. He can bang on tight ends in coverage and support the run near the box. His angles to the ball are efficient against the run or pass. He’s very instinctive and sees plays unfold, but doesn’t have ballhawking twitch to challenge a high number of throws. His tackle net isn’t as wide in the open field, so he must tackle with excellent fundamentals. Winfield isn’t a star but he’s a quality building block with the toughness and intelligence to help fortify the back end.”
4. Jeremy Chinn, Southern Illinois
While some players on this list figure to go in the nine spots ahead of Chicago when Round 2 begins, the hope is that Jeremy Chinn will still be on the board. His stock has been on the rise since the start of last season, and it’s only grown with strong showings at the Senior Bowl and the Scouting Combine. The Bears have shown plenty of interest in the Southern Illinois product, as they’ve met with him twice during the pre-draft process.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, Chinn is a “safety prospect with compelling size, speed and athletic ability. He has man cover skills. Very willing and able as a tackler, but despite his diverse skill set, his effectiveness can wane when asked to multitask. Chinn is at his best when he’s actively engaged and not sitting in space dissecting what comes next. His ball skills and athleticism are strengths that help define his value and teams will need to find ways to put him in position to utilize both without exposing his inconsistent field awareness. He might find a future role as a big nickel or a cover linebacker who can drag tight ends around the field in sub-packages.”
5. Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne
Like Chinn, Dugger’s stock has been on the rise following a strong season and showings at the Senior Bowl and Scouting Combine. When looking at Dugger, he appears to have it all — a versatile, speedy athlete with explosiveness and production to back it up. And that’s something that the Bears would love opposite ballhawk Eddie Jackson in the defensive backfield.
According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, “it’s rare to find a safety with elite size, speed, explosiveness and production at a Power 5 school and almost impossible to find one at a Division II school. Dugger crammed the stat sheet full and used those elite traits to dominate the opposition. At times, he seems bored with his level of competition, but his engagement can be instant and urgent when it needs to be. He plays with controlled violence and carries an alpha demeanor on the field. He has soft hands and is rangy, but needs to train his eyes and improve his fundamentals before he’s coverage-ready. Dugger is a versatile, scheme-friendly safety who helps immediately on special teams and could develop into a talented NFL starter.”
