Ex-Scout: Bears Will Get Next “Warren Sapp” If They Stay At #1

Everybody is already convinced the Chicago Bears will trade the #1 overall pick. It is only a matter of time. The teams eager to move up will be substantial, especially since the two in striking distance are division rivals. Make no mistake, there is plenty of logic behind the move. It accumulates much-needed draft ammunition for a team that is rebuilding. That said, nothing is ever guaranteed when the draft is involved. There is a real possibility GM Ryan Poles either elects or is forced to stay at #1. If that happens, he will have a choice to make. Identify the best player on his board and pick him. What about the next Warren Sapp?

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network is one of the most respected draft experts in the field. He’s also a former scout that worked in the league for years. There was no hesitation when asked who his top player in this class was. It is Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter. He feels the 6’3, 300 lbs kid is a game-wrecker with his mix of power, quickness, speed, and violence. So much so that Jeremiah sees a lot of the former Hall of Famer in his game.

Warren Sapp made this defense famous.

It became known as the “Tampa-2” when Tony Dungy installed it while head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The catalyst that made everything go was Sapp. His ability to provide interior pressure on the quarterback made it a miserable experience playing the Bucs. Head coach Matt Eberflus called the three-technique the “engine” that drives the defense. As it goes, everybody else goes. So it is a fair assumption that the Bears will be actively trying to fill it. Carter has the skillset made for it.

The key concern is he doesn’t have the same proven track record as Warren Sapp, who had 10.5 sacks in his final year at Miami in 1994. Carter had three sacks. He’s never been able to rack up big numbers. Some of that is teams scheming away from him, some injuries, and some questions about his conditioning and lack of discipline. There is no question Carter can demolish blocking schemes when he wants to. The trick is whether he can play with a more controlled fury. Can he be that dominant on every snap without too many lulls?

Those are the questions Chicago must get answered if they do plan on taking him.