Chicago Bears: Jack Sanborn, LB, Wisconsin
Jack Sanborn didn’t get a lot of love coming into the NFL. The Wisconsin product was called “average” and “limited” when it came to his athleticism and the 4.79-second time he put up in the 40-yard dash did little to quiet those concerns.
Despite all of that, he’s still known as a technically sound player who knows how to get into the right position and bring the ball carrier down. This is why he had 221 tackles over the past three seasons for the Badgers, including 89 this past year.
Not only did Sanborn record a career-high in tackles, but he had 16 tackles for a loss, which more than doubled the 13 he had in his first three seasons in the NCAA.
Now a member of the Chicago Bears, Sanborn has a legitimate shot at making the 53-man roster. He’s not going to beat out Roquan Smith or Nicholas Morrow, but he could leapfrog players such as Joe Thomas, Caleb Johnson, or Noah Dawkins if he continues to put himself in a position to make plays.
Chicago is a team that really finds itself hurting for talent. Both sides of the ball need help when it comes to depth, which is why it’s a perfect place for someone such as Sanborn to catch on and make an impact.