Dec 28, 2013; Orlando, FL, USA; Louisville Cardinals safety Calvin Pryor (25) waves his arms to the crowd in the fourth quarter as theCardinals beat the Miami Hurricanes 36-9 to win the Russell Athletic Bowl at Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Former Louisville safety Calvin Pryor had a pre-draft visit with the Chicago Bears, reports Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.
It is widely assumed that the Bears will go defense with their 14th overall pick, and safety has been cited as a need. After having some of the league’s worst safety play from Major Wright and Chris Conte last season, the Bears brought in Ryan Mundy and M.D. Jennings. While Mundy is expected to lock up the starting role at strong safety, the free safety spot would be open for competition should the Bears draft a safety in the first round. Pryor, along with Alabama prospect Ha Ha Clinton-Dix are seen as the top two safeties in the draft.
A hard hitter, Pryor has the size and on-field sample to be a good NFL safety. Since the combine, Pryor has risen up boards from late first round pick to top-20 prospect and challenger to Clinton-Dix to become the first safety taken. In comparison to Clinton-Dix, Pryor is the more lights-out hitter, and the one more likely to make a game-changing pick or forced fumble. However, Clinton-Dix has the better range and gets a slight edge from me as purely a free safety. Then again, the team who drafts Pryor will get a player who truly can play both safety positions in the NFL.