NFL draft: Alabama's Fitzpatrick makes sense for Bears at No. 8
Sixth in a series
There is some debate as to whether Alabama's Minkah Fitzpatrick or Florida State's Derwin James is the best safety in this draft, and both could be claimed in the top 10.
Stanford's Justin Reid could sneak into the first round, but if he doesn't, he won't last long on Day 2. Fitzpatrick's teammate, Ronnie Harrison, seems destined for Round 2, and Wake Forest's Jessie Bates belongs there as well. After that, there's a steep decline in a class of safeties that lacks depth.
Chicago Bears general manager Ryan Pace has found some gems in the middle-to-late rounds of his three drafts with the team, especially at safety.
Last year's fourth-round pick, Alabama's Eddie Jackson, was a 16-game starter who scored two defensive touchdowns of 75 yards or longer - in the same game (one on an interception and the other on a fumble recovery). He appears capable of becoming the playmaker the Bears' secondary has been missing for years.
Adrian Amos, a fifth-round pick in 2015 who started 30 games in his first two seasons without distinction, didn't begin the 2017 season as a starter. But, when Quintin Demps went out with a fractured arm, Amos reclaimed his old job and turned in his best season as a pro. He had his first career interception in 2017, which he returned 90 yards for a touchdown, but he's much better in run support and as an open-field tackler. Amos may never be a Pro Bowl player, but he wasn't a weak link on the NFL's No. 10 defense.
There is no proven depth behind the starters. The Bears cut their losses with Demps after one season, leaving them with a trio of 2016 draft picks still seeking significant roles. Deon Bush, who had a reputation as a big hitter at Miami, started six games as a rookie but took a step back last year, when he rarely saw the field.
The 6-foot-2, 201-pound Deiondre Hall has intriguing size and could factor in at cornerback at some point, but he regressed in 2017, losing most of the season to a hamstring injury. When he returned, even with the Bears decimated by injuries at safety, Hall still couldn't get on the field.
DeAndre Houston-Carson has found a niche on special teams, where he was third last year with 10 tackles.
Here's a glance at what the Bears might do in the draft:
Day 1: Fitzpatrick makes a ton of sense at No. 8, and Pace is sure to love his versatility. He has a rare size-speed-cover combination that could make him a Pro Bowl player at cornerback or safety - and right away. Fitzpatrick is an elite playmaker, who took four of his nine career picks to the house and averaged 30.4 yards on his interception returns. He had 35 career pass breakups and 22 special-teams tackles.
Fitzpatrick brings an intensity level that elevates the entire defense, and he can be deployed at multiple positions from slot corner, to deep safety, to sub-package linebacker. If Fitzpatrick has a weakness, it might be that he is sometimes too aggressive, and if we're picking nits, he could add a little bulk to be strictly a safety.
James, a third-year sophomore, doesn't possess the versatility of Fitzpatrick, but he may be the better safety. He ran a 4.47 40-time at 6-2 and 215 pounds - Fitzpatrick ran 4.46. James out-benched Fitzpatrick in reps 21-14, his 40-inch vertical was seven inches better, and his broad jump of an even 11 feet was 11 inches longer.
But James had just three career interceptions, and he's not nearly the player Fitzpatrick is in coverage. James might be limited to strong safety, but he can terrorize opponents as a run defender and blitzer.
Day 2: Stanford's Reid is the younger brother of 2013 Pro Bowl FS Eric Reid, and he showed his versatility last season with 99 tackles and five interceptions. Reid has 4.40 speed, a high football IQ, great instincts, and he demonstrated solid ball skills when covering slot receivers. He's physical enough to handle tight ends. He can be too aggressive in run support, though.
Day 3: Evaluations of Texas A&M's Armani Watts are all over the board. Some have him as high as the second round, while others believe the fifth round is too soon for an undersized player with impressive cover skills for a safety.
There could be a high bust potential for teams considering him early on Day Two because of concerns regarding his effort level, especially as a tackler. Watts has shown CB cover skills, and he had 10 career interceptions, including four last year. Aat 5-10 and 202 pounds, he's undersized at safety and would likely have to play free safety. He has drawn comparisons to Tyrann Mathieu because of his limited size but excellent playmaking ability.
• Twitter: @BobLeGere
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Bears depth chart
Safeties: Eddie Jackson; Adrian Amos; Deon Bush; Deiondre Hall; DeAndre Houston-Carson
Bears draft need: Moderate
Bears draft picks: Round 1 (eighth overall); Round 2 (39th); Round 4 (105th) and (115th); Round 5 (145th); Round 6 (181st); Round 7 (224th)
2018 salary-cap situation: The Bears are 25th in the league in spending on their secondary at $22.413 million, according to spotrac.com, and less than $5 million of that money goes to safeties. Amos, at $1.965 million, is the only safety making more than $800,000.