Draft offers Chicago Bears several solid choices at inside linebacker

Editor's note: Fourth in a series

Some critics claim the Chicago Bears biggest off-season need is a pass rusher.

But, as a team, they finished 12th in sacks per pass play in 2015, and the team's top three sackers were outside linebackers Lamarr Houston (8), Willie Young (6½) and Pernell McPhee (6).

The more critical need is a big-play, impact player at inside linebacker. Shea McClellin (96) and Christian Young (93), combined for 189 tackles but just 4 were behind the line of scrimmage. They had no interceptions, no sacks, 1 forced fumble and 2 fumble recoveries.

Linebackers

Starters: OLB Pernell McPhee, OLB Willie Young, ILB Shea McClellin, ILB Christian Jones.

Backups: OLB Lamarr Houston, OLB Sam Acho, ILB Jonathan Anderson, ILB John Timu, ILB LaRoy Reynolds, ILB Lamin Barrow.

Unrestricted free agents: Acho, McClellin.

Restricted free agent: Reynolds.

McPhee started out playing the way the Bears had hoped when they made him their marquee free-agent signing last off-season with a five-year, $38.75 million deal. He had 5 sacks and an interception in the first seven games but just 1 sack in the final nine games, playing much less effectively on a bad knee that kept him out of two games.

Young, the Bears' 2014 sack leader with 10, rebounded from a slow 2015 start caused by Achilles surgery last December. He had 5½ sacks in the final seven games, including at least 1 in five straight games. He was second on the team with 6½ sacks and second with 21 quarterback pressures.

Lamarr Houston made amends for his embarrassingly bad 2014 season by leading the team with 8 sacks, 7 more than he had a year earlier, and he played well versus the run as well. Houston didn't start a game until Week 16 but was seventh with 51 tackles.

Acho is probably not a difference maker or a starter on an elite defense, but he's more than good enough to be a top backup, and he brings added value on special teams. He was a bargain for the one-year, $745,000 deal that brought him to the Bears as an unrestricted free agent and, if his price stays low, he should be back.

McClellin was better after moving inside from outside, but the Bears won't get into a bidding war for him. Jones' athleticism and speed make him effective on running downs, but he was replaced in nickel situations by undrafted rookies, Anderson or Timu. Both showed a nose for the ball. Anderson had 1 of the Bears' 8 interceptions and 5 pass breakups, while Timu recovered 2 fumbles. Anderson had 13 tackles in a midseason start in San Diego and Timu totaled 25 tackles while starting the final three games.

Reynolds and Barrow were primarily special teams players.

Draft need: moderate.

Feeling a draft: The Bears will have their choice of elite, game-changing linebackers inside or outside if they choose to go that way in the first round.

Inside, Reggie Ragland has already become a frequent choice for the Bears in mock drafts, and he played in Alabama's 3-4 defense. UCLA's Myles Jack is rated even higher on many draft boards based on his exceptional cover ability and position versatility.

Outside, Notre Dame's Jaylon Smith might have been a top-five pick before a devastating knee injury, but he could still go in the top half of the first round. There are several other OLBs who could be available in Round Two, including Arizona's Scooby Wright, Boise State's Kamalei Correa and Georgia's Jordan Jenkins and Leonard Floyd.

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