Bears jump up to 9th overall, select Leonard Floyd

The Chicago Bears have selected linebacker Leonard Floyd out of Georgia with the ninth overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Bears weren't scheduled to be put on the clock until No. 11, but trading up two spots with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers allowed them to secure their target rather than sitting tight and hoping he'd fall.

Floyd fills a long-standing need on the edge, presumably taking on a rush-linebacker role in Vic Fangio's 3-4 defense,

He was an impact player throughout his three seasons at Georgia, racking up 17 sacks in 37 games.

Position: OLB
School: Georgia
College Experience: Junior
Height: 6-6
Weight: 244 lbs.

Strengths

• Very rare combination of length and athleticism, with excellent sideline-to-sideline speed.
• Fantastic ability to shed blockers in open space to make tackles.
• Speed off the edge is very difficult for offensive linemen to handle.
• Has ability to be effective in man coverage, using athleticism to stay with tight ends or running backs.

Weaknesses

• Has been labeled by some as the next Jordan or Barkevious Mingo.
• Extremely thin frame; can be overpowered by offensive linemen.
• Needs to put on substantial weight.
• Lacks play strength at the outside linebacker spot.

Combine Results