Pernell McPhee Signing Gives Bears Much-Needed Flexibility for 2015 NFL Draft
Published by Zach Kruse on March 9, 2015
Article Source: Bleacher Report - Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears signing of outside linebacker Pernell McPhee should provide new defensive coordinator Vic Fangio with a versatile chess piece in the front seven and new general manager Ryan Pace with attractive flexibility at the No. 7 overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft.
Per Aaron Wilson of The Baltimore Sun, McPhee and the Bears have agreed to a five-year deal worth almost $40 million, including just under $16 million guaranteed. The deal is not allowed to become official until the new league year opens at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.
McPhee figures to fill a sizable hole in Chicago’s new-look defense, which is expected to operate in a 3-4 front under Fangio. At the very least, the Bears will function in a hybrid mix of three- and four-man fronts. McPhee might be the perfect addition for the transition, given his experience playing a number of positions for the always-versatile Baltimore Ravens defense over the last four seasons.
The 6’3″, 280-pounder has played defensive end and tackle in both the 3-4 and 4-3, but he burst onto the scene during a breakout season in 2014, primarily as an edge player in the 3-4.
According to Pro Football Focus, McPhee was on the field for just 540 snaps but still registered 7.5 sacks, 21 quarterback hits and 35 hurries last season—making him one of the most productive per-snap rushers in all of football.
His 64 total pressures ranked third among 3-4 outside linebackers, while his pass-rushing productivity—a measure of pressures created on a per-snap basis—finished behind only Justin Houston, the NFL’s sack leader in 2014.
McPhee was especially deadly rushing from the right side of the defense (or against the left side of the offense). Over 188 pass-rushing snaps, McPhee registered a staggering 44 pressures—giving him the best productivity ranking of any outside linebacker from the right side.
For perspective: Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs created 46 pressures rushing from the right side of the defense last season. However, he also needed 405 snaps, or over twice as many as McPhee.
The Bears are banking on McPhee remaining productive as a full-time player, which he never was with the Ravens. However, any worries should be mitigated by the presence of Fangio, who covets versatility in a defense he mastered with the San Francisco 49ers.
The Bears should be able to use McPhee as a five-technique defensive end or standing up at outside linebacker when Fangio wants to run the 3-4. And in four-man fronts, McPhee can slide to defensive end or even play some interior tackle. He was productive at all four spots for the Ravens.
For the Bears, hiring Fangio and adding McPhee is a strong start to the highly necessary defensive rebuild under way in Chicago.
There is also draft value for Chicago in adding an impact pass-rusher in free agency.
Many have pegged Chicago as a likely landing spot for one of the many available first-round edge players. The idea has always made loads of sense, as the aging defense transitioning to the 3-4 front needs outside pass-rushers.
The arrival of McPhee should open up the possibilities for the Bears at No. 7 overall.
It’s possible Pace will still use his first-round pick on a player such as Nebraska’s Randy Gregory, Missouri’s Shane Ray, Florida’s Dante Fowler Jr. or Clemson’s Vic Beasley.
All four edge players are talented enough to be drafted in the top 10, and no team can ever have enough talented edge-rushers. Teaming McPhee with Willie Young and a player like Beasley or Ray would give Fangio a deep, versatile mix of quarterback disrupters.
Then again, the Bears’ need at edge-rusher is now greatly reduced, giving Pace a chance to address other positions. On defense, Chicago still requires upgrades at nose tackle, inside linebacker, cornerback and safety. The offense is unlikely to be addressed in the first round, but if the right receiver or quarterback fell to No. 7, Pace now has more flexibility in pulling the trigger.
The deal with McPhee checks off both the versatility and flexibility boxes for the Bears. A talent-starved defense receives an ascending pass-rusher in his prime, while Pace is no longer tied to any one position with the seventh overall pick. Sounds like a win-win for Chicago.
Zach Kruse covers the NFC North for Bleacher Report.
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