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Chicago Bears: 5 Defensive tackles to target in 2018 NFL draft

By Carlos Nazario

SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies defends against the Portland State Vikings on September 17, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
SEATTLE, WA - SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive lineman Vita Vea #50 of the Washington Huskies defends against the Portland State Vikings on September 17, 2016 at Husky Stadium in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /
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4. Kendrick Norton, Miami (FL): 6-3, 314 pounds

Elite athleticism runs in Kendrick Norton‘s genes. His father, Ken Norton Jr. is a former Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers All-Pro linebacker. His grandfather, Ken Norton Sr., was a former heavyweight world champion boxer.

At Miami, Norton was an athletic wide body who took up space in the middle well. He is good against the run. He plants himself down and blockers have a hard time moving him out of the way.

Norton has good hands and a quick slap. He uses good leverage to move blockers and slips in on a slant well. What he needs to improve on is to work on his body. He has too big of a stomach and that slows him down. If he was a little trimmer it’d help him be quicker. Also, he has some trouble collapsing the pocket. Norton impressed at the NFL Combine. He ran a 5.26-second 40 and had 30 reps on the bench press (225 pounds).

With his athleticism and having fatherly help (even though his father is a coach for the Seattle Seahawks), Norton will be a steal for a team. He isn’t a sexy pick, but he’s solid and could be a great backup at first and later become a productive starter. Right now he can clog the middle and greatly help the run defense and eats up blocks, which helps someone like Akiem Hicks.

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