Chicago Bears: Grading every 2018 NFL Draft pick

Grade: C

Up to this point, the Bears were having an exceptional draft. Then, they went and double-dipped at linebacker, leaving other areas of need untouched while adding a second inside linebacker who should struggle to contribute anytime soon.

Doesn’t make a lot of sense for a team that seems eager to win now. More than likely, Joel Iyiegbuniwe will spend his first couple of seasons playing special teams and not much else. He’s a raw inside linebacker prospect with good athleticism and speed, but is undersized. In the Bears’ 3-4 defense, he may actually be tried at outside linebacker.

If that is the case, it could be an ever longer wait for Iyiegbuniwe to earn snaps. Although he flashed pass-rushing potential at Western Kentucky with 6.5 career sacks, he’s still a long ways away from being ready to take on NFL-caliber tackles. So a move to the edge may not be in his best interests either.

Even if he stays inside, he’ll have to battle Smith, Trevathan and Kwiatkoski for snaps. Assuming Trevathan doesn’t become a cap casualty, he’ll be buried on the depth chart.

Iyiegbuniwe has the potential to be an asset somewhere down the road. However, with so many other potential impact players on the board — especially at positions of need — this seems like a stretch for the Bears. This fourth-round pick would have been better used elsewhere.