NFL Mock Draft 7.0: Round 1 of the 2018 NFL Draft

The Chicago Bears have good depth in the linebacking core, but they could do well to add a young prospect with considerable upside at the position. In this sense, Virginia Tech’s Tremaine Edmunds checks all the boxes.

Edmunds has elite size at 6-foot-5, 253. His length is rare for his position, and he has the athleticism to move very well, given his measurements. He tested very well at the NFL Combine , running an incredible 4.54 in the 40-yard dash, as well as logging 19 bench reps.

On top of all these positive traits, Edmunds won’t turn 20 years old until May, and for his entire rookie season, he will be 20 years old, when other rookies around him will be between 21 and 24 years old. Edmunds has a leg up in almost every area, from physical ability, to available time to grow. That is valuable for a young NFL team whose championship window is approaching, but hasn’t arrived yet.

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Fittingly, Edmunds’ professional player comparison, courtesy of NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, is former Bears Hall of Fame linebacker Brian Urlacher. But on Zierlein’s scouting report of the former Hokies standout, an anonymous NFL executive even admits that there isn’t a true player comparison for such a physically dominant player like Edmunds.

There are three linebackers who all could be first off the board at their position, but if size, speed, and athleticism have anything to do with the decision, then Edmunds should be the first one to go. He offers the most upside out of the group, as well as the most time to grow. He has a floor as a raw, dynamic playmaker, and in time, he could grow into a star.