Tag: Bears safeties

The first round of the 2020 NFL Draft couldn’t have gone better for the Chicago Bears, who heading into Day 2 armed with a pair of second-rounders has plenty of first-round talent still on the board.

Heading into Round 2, there are a wealth of safety prospects — including some first-round talent — available. And considering the Bears are looking for safety Eddie Jackson’s running mate at strong safety, Chicago would do well to consider these players.

Here are five safeties that are still on the board heading into Day 2 that Chicago should target, if they fall to them at pick 43.

1. Xavier McKinney, Alabama

It’s hard to believe that, after Round 1, arguably the best safety prospect is still on the board heading into Day 2. While the Bears should lock him up in an instant, there’s a good chance he doesn’t fall 10 spots to Chicago at No. 43. But on the off chance he does, Xavier McKinney would bring athleticism, instincts and versatility to the safety position opposite Eddie Jackson.

According to NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, McKinney is an “ascending safety prospect offering a combination of plus athleticism, field awareness and versatility. McKinney split time equally at slot, free safety and in the box and is accomplished in each. His coverage instincts, athleticism and quick-twitch burst are more cornerback than safety, which is why he’s likely to be a coveted toy for teams looking to upgrade and diversify their sub-packages. He can sit in center field all day if needed, and he’s an adequate open-field tackler but has room for improvement in that area. McKinney represents the new breed of versatile, matchup safety with high upside as an early starter.”