This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Lake Forest, Ill. • The Chicago Bears were looking for playmakers on defense and someone who could take down quarterbacks.
They are counting on Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd to do just that.
The Bears took Floyd with the ninth pick in Thursday's draft after trading up two spots in a deal with Tampa Bay. Chicago sent the 11th pick along with a fourth-rounder to the Buccaneers.
The 6-foot-6, 244-pound Floyd is long and elusive off the edge and could put up bigger numbers in Chicago than he did in college. He led the Bulldogs in sacks for the third straight year with 4 1/2 and tied for the team lead with 10 1/2 tackles for loss last season.
The way they struggled to make plays on defense last season, it was no surprise the Bears addressed it in the first round. And there's a good chance they will continue to seek potential playmakers up front and in the secondary over the next two days, although they could use some help on offense as well.
The Bears own seven more picks, including one each in the second and third round on Friday. They also have one in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and one in the seventh on Saturday.
Chicago finished last in the NFC North at 6-10, tying for 22nd in sacks and 30th in both forced fumbles and interceptions last season. As gloomy as that sounds, the Bears still looked more like a professional operation. General manager Ryan Pace and coach John Fox instilled some stability in a team that was engulfed in chaos during a five-win collapse the previous year under Phil Emery and Marc Trestman.
The Bears addressed weaknesses at inside linebacker by signing Danny Trevathan from Super Bowl champion Denver and former Indianapolis Colts player Jerrell Freeman. They also added to their offensive line by signing former Arizona Cardinals right tackle Bobby Massie, clearing way for Kyle Long to move back to right guard.
But two key players on offense are gone, with the Bears deciding not to offer running back Matt Forte a contract for a ninth season and trading tight end Martellus Bennett to New England. They are relying on Jeremy Langford and Ka'Deem Carey to carry the ball and Zach Miller to make up for the loss of Bennett.