Heading into the 2020 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have several roster needs on offense and defense — and not a whole lot of draft capital to work with.
The Bears have just two picks in the first four rounds — both in the second round — so general manager Ryan Pace is going to need to make them count, especially with so many roster needs.
Cornerback is one of those needs, and Chicago has shown plenty of interest in cornerbacks in the pre-draft process. The Bears held a virtual pre-draft meeting with Louisiana Tech cornerback Amik Robertson, according to Draft Wire’s Justin Melo.
Amik Robertson is among my favorite players in the draft.
He made it to Philly for a visit (in person) w/ the #Eagles prior to COVID-19. Several planned visits didn't occur (including #Saints)
He's met virtually w/ 20+ teams including #Jets, #Bears, #Falcons, #Raiders, #Titans.
— Justin M (@JustinM_NFL) April 19, 2020
The Bears are looking for a starting right cornerback to fill the shoes of the departed Prince Amukamara opposite Pro Bowler Kyle Fuller. While the Bears have some players on their roster looking to compete for that starting cornerback job, they should certainly jump at the chance to draft a young cornerback.
Perhaps that guy is Robertson, who, despite his 5-foot-8 stature, possesses rare instincts and ball skills that make him an intriguing prospect to watch. Although, Robertson projects to be a nickel corner at the NFL level, a role already filled by Buster Skrine. But the Bears could find Skrine’s eventual replacement in Robertson.
Here’s what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had to say about Robertson in his evaluation:
Smallish, outside corner with tremendous intensity, swagger and toughness. Needs to handle the athletic challenges as a slot corner in the NFL. He gives rough rides to receivers trying to get away from his press before following it with route recognition and footwork to continue hounding his man. Physicality overtakes technique at times and he could struggle to mirror the release of savvy NFL slot receivers. The instincts and ball skills are rare and should translate to this level of competition in zone and man as long as he can shadow routes. Teams may worry about his size, but run support will not be a concern and Robertson could become a starting nickel as a Day 3 selection.
In 38 games for the Bulldogs — all starts — he tallied 23 tackles for loss, 48 passes defensed and 14 interceptions. He’s an instinctive playmaker with a nose for the football, and it’s no surprise that Chicago has shown interest.
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