In the past 25 years, the Chicago Bears have selected two edge rushers who achieved a double-digit-sack season for the team.
Mark Anderson, a fifth-round pick in 2006, had 12 sacks in his rookie season. Rosevelt Colvin, a fourth-round pick in 1999, had 10 1/2 sacks in 2001 and 2002 before leaving as a free agent.
The only other edge rusher to reach at least 10 sacks in a season did it elsewhere — Leonard Floyd, selected ninth in 2016, had 10 1/2 sacks this season for the Buffalo Bills and the same number in 2020 for the Los Angeles Rams.
The Bears have mostly relied on free agents or trades for their pass rush, and general manager Ryan Poles addressed the need during the season when he traded for Montez Sweat. He secured Sweat with a four-year, $98 million contract. For the Bears’ defense to improve, they need a pass-rushing threat opposite Sweat. Some veteran options will be considered in free agency, including Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings, but ideally the team would pair a rookie with Sweat. It’s too early to predict, but if the Bears draft a quarterback with the No. 1 pick, they might consider a wide receiver, offensive tackle, or edge rusher at No. 9. Poles could also trade down at No. 9 and look for players in those positions. extension.
UCLA’s Laiatu Latu is considered a top edge rusher in the draft after totaling 23 1/2 sacks over the last two seasons. He won the Pac-12 defensive player of the year and the Lombardi Award for best defensive lineman in the nation. He has showcased impressive moves at Senior Bowl practices.
Latu is 6-foot-5, 261 pounds, but his arm length at 32 1/2 inches may not be ideal. Eberflus, who scouts defensive players, values length.
Latu's impressive performance is marred by concerns about his medical history. He briefly retired after a neck injury in college and required surgery for a slipped disk in 2021.
Latu had to sit out the 2020 season due to a stinger injury in practice, and eventually required surgery for a slipped disk in March 2021. Medical reports will be a focal point at the scouting combine.
After experiencing a stinger in practice during the 2020 season preparations, Latu underwent an MRI and Washington medical staff advised him to sit out the season. Ultimately, he was medically retired due to safety concerns.
Latu described experiencing a stinger and subsequent discomfort, leading to the decision for him to be medically retired.
Latu's career was interrupted by a neck injury early in college, leading to a brief retirement. Later, he suffered a stinger in practice and subsequently required surgery for a slipped disk, prompting medical retirement.
Rehab was meant to be a challenging nine-month process. But 2 1/2 months after surgery, Latu had no issues and was still at Washington with his scholarship intact, but not allowed to play football.
“You can call me stubborn, but I went into playing men’s rugby and really just testing my body, tackling grown men and stuff like that,” he said. “I earned a contract from the Seattle Seawolves to go and play with them for a extended part of time. They’d pay me and give me housing, stuff like that, turned that down. I wanted to chase my passion for football.”
Latu got another opinion about his neck injury and met with Dr. Robert Watkins in Southern California. Latu was cleared to play football, entered the transfer portal and became a great find for the Bruins.
Every team here has asked him about his journey and the medical process, and he can point out he had no injury issues the last two years at UCLA.
“Head, neck and heart, those are the three issues that get really tricky for the medical teams,” a high-ranking personnel man said after practice Tuesday at South Alabama’s Whitney Hancock Stadium. “It could be a deal where half the teams pass him and half fail him.”
Sweat had a heart issue when he came out of Mississippi State. He was reported to be diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which results in thickening of the heart walls. Some later said that diagnosis was incorrect, but the official I spoke to said his team removed Sweat from its draft board. Sweat is a clear example of a player with a medical-related issue who can go on to have a productive and durable career despite the questions of highly trained doctors.
On the field, Latu isn’t great defending the run and has had a few instances in practices in which he has struggled to set the edge.
“He’s not overly strong,” a college scouting director said. “He’s willing and it’s not a lack of effort in the run game. You might want him to add some weight if he’s a three-down player. But there’s so many sub packages, if you’re just drafting him to hunt the quarterback, you’re fine.”
In a draft class that isn’t stocked with elite edge rushers, Latu could have skipped the Senior Bowl and kept his focus strictly on preparing for on-field testing at the combine in Indianapolis.
“I was told I could never play football again,” Latu said. “To me, I can’t get enough of it, especially learning from the best of the best while being out here. Really just gaining knowledge and growing.”
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