Chicago Bears: 5 First-round targets in the 2018 NFL Draft
2. Minkah Fitzpatrick, DB, Alabama
The secondary could have been a massive need for the Chicago Bears in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, after re-signing cornerback Kyle Fuller and Prince Amukamara in free agency, adding a defensive back is of less importance. With Fuller and Amukamara on the outside, Bryce Callahan in the slot and Adrian Amos and Eddie Jackson at safety, the Bears have a solid starting unit in the secondary.
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That being said, there is certainly room for improvement if the right prospect falls.
With as many as four quarterbacks possibly being selected before the eighth pick, a premium player could certainly fall to the Chicago Bears. If that player is Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick, the Bears need to think long and hard about adding him to their secondary mix.
Fitzpatrick is an extremely talented defensive back who has excelled at both safety and cornerback at Alabama. He is probably best suited as a safety at the next level, but Fitzpatrick also certainly has the skills to contribute as a slot corner as well.
In college, he showed fantastic range and ball skills as a deep safety. Fitzpatrick is also a big-time player in-the-box, showing the ability to range around and make plays in coverage and against the run. He is also a tremendous blitz asset and has the natural man-to-man coverage ability to handle most players in the slot.
Simply put, Minkah Fitzpatrick is a jack-of-all-trades who could immediately come in and be a fantastic versatile weapon for the Bears defense. Safety is not a major position of need for the Bears, but Fitzpatrick is the perfect kind of best player available selection. Plus, his versatile skill set would allow them to use Fitzpatrick in a variety of different roles and get all of their best players on the field most of the time.