POSITION SPOTLIGHT: OUTSIDE LINEBACKER
Rating Bears’ need: Medium
It’s not as if the Bears desperately need a starter. Pernell McPhee was a game- changer when healthy, and Willie Young and Lamarr Houston combined for 14 ½ sacks.
What the Bears do need, though, is a speed rusher for their nickel and dime packages.
‘‘ For base downs, your two bigger outside ’ backers might be completely different guys than on third third down, or first down when they come out [ with three wide receivers],’’ coach John Fox said last month. ‘‘ Those might be completely different, smaller, faster, than maybe the guys on base downs going against huge tight ends, possibly even an extra tackle. Everything’s gotten a lot more specialized.’’
Young is the only speed rusher on the Bears’ roster, but his contract expires at the end of the the season. Sam Acho, who started seven games last year, is more of of a special- teams guy.
Best of the best
Joey Bosa will be the top edge rusher taken — likely long before No. 11. The Ohio State star might be a better fit in a scheme with four down linemen, but he could fit as a 3- 4 outside linebacker who plays end in sub packages. Bosa was dominant with the Buckeyes, totaling 26 sacks and 50 ½ tackles for loss in 37 career starts over three seasons. No one in the country had more tackles for loss during that span.
Other options
Georgia’s Leonard Floyd, Clemson’s Shaq Lawson and Oklahoma State’s Emmanuel Ogbah all visited Halas Hall this month. They could be chosen in the middle of the first round. Eastern Kentucky’s Noah Spence, who was booted from Ohio State, would be a good fit if the Bears are comfortable with his past. Kevin Dodd, who playedplaye opposite Lawson at Clemson, thinks he can can fit as an an outside linebacker. Michigan State’s Shilique Calhoun Calhoun would would need to be converted from end to linebacker, too.