2018 NFL Mock Draft: Browns land Baker Mayfield
By Conor Dorney
After spending a billion dollars (approximately) on Mike Glennon and a top-five selection on Mitchell Trubisky, the Bears won’t be in the market for a quarterback but will be in the market for talent pretty much everywhere else. Here, they land one of the most talented and versatile defensive backs in the class, Alabama’s Minkah Fitzpatrick.
A former consensus five-star recruit, Fitzpatrick arrived on campus in Tuscaloosa and immediately made an impact. During his three seasons with the Tide, Fitzpatrick logged 171 tackles, 16.5 tackles for loss and nine interceptions, including four pick-sixes.
One of the best parts of Fitzpatrick’s game is his versatility, as he has the ability to play both safety and cornerback. Alabama lined him up in a number of different ways in the secondary and he seemed to thrive in every one. He has sound footwork to be able to cover out of the slot and on the outside, and plays with outstanding overall awareness.
New head coach Matt Nagy seems to be intent on revitalizing Mitchell Trubisky with creative offensive schemes, much in the same way the Rams’ Jared Goff did with Sean McVay. If that’s the case, I see the Bears almost certainly adding to the defense with a playmaker like Fitzpatrick with the eighth-overall pick.