As the Chicago Bears head into a pivotal offseason, most of the buzz has centered around the defensive line and secondary - and rightfully so. But don’t sleep on the linebacker room. It’s a position that could quietly see some major turnover, and the front office seems to be preparing accordingly.
Let’s start with the facts: Noah Sewell and D’Marco Jackson are set to hit free agency, and there’s real chatter that Tremaine Edmunds - who signed a big-ticket deal not long ago - could be a cap casualty. That’s a lot of uncertainty at a position that’s supposed to be the heartbeat of your defense. So it makes sense that the Bears are doing their homework on linebacker prospects, and one name that keeps popping up is Shad Banks out of UTSA.
Banks has been turning heads at the American Bowl this month, and no team has reportedly spent more time with him than Chicago. The reason?
Speed. Pure, sideline-to-sideline speed - the kind that jumps off the tape.
Banks logged three interceptions last season, and he took one of those to the house. He also returned a fumble for a touchdown.
That kind of playmaking ability doesn’t go unnoticed.
In total, he racked up 208 tackles in college, including 21 for loss and four sacks. That’s not just production - that’s versatility.
And for a defensive mind like Dennis Allen, who’s known for tailoring his schemes to fit his personnel, a guy like Banks could be a Swiss Army knife. He can cover, he can blitz, and he can chase down ball carriers in the open field.
That’s a rare combo.
If this all sounds familiar, it’s because we saw a similar move last year when the Bears took Rueben Hyppolite in the fourth round. That pick caught some people off guard - Hyppolite wasn’t ranked that high on most boards - but Allen clearly valued his speed.
Now, the interest in Banks reinforces that same philosophy. Chicago wants linebackers who can fly.
And it’s not just about raw athleticism. The Bears had real issues defending the middle of the field this past season.
That’s often a sign your linebackers are either too slow to react or not reading plays fast enough. Banks checks both boxes - he’s got the instincts and the wheels.
Right now, most projections have him going on Day 3 of the draft. But if he continues to impress through the pre-draft process - think Combine, Pro Day, private workouts - that stock could rise.
Either way, the Bears’ attention to the linebacker position shouldn’t be overlooked. While fans and analysts debate the future of the defensive line and safety group, Chicago might be gearing up for a quieter, but just as important, overhaul at linebacker.
Bottom line: don’t be surprised if linebacker ends up being a bigger part of the Bears’ draft plan than people are expecting. Shad Banks is just one piece of that puzzle - but he’s a piece that fits the mold of what this coaching staff seems to be building.