The way linebackers were flying off the board in the second round, the Bears, who were in desperate need of an inside linebacker to replace Brian Urlacher, had no choice but to use the No. 50 overall pick on Florida inside linebacker Jon Bostic, according to ESPN Jeff Dickerson.
NFL Draft 2013: Bears envision Jon Bostic as starting linebacker
Jon Bostic has a big role in the Bears’ future.
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They didn't just select him because they needed depth at the position, though. They selected him because general manager Phil Emery sees him as an eventual starter who can begin pushing players like D.J. Williams and James Anderson for their starting jobs.
“The reason we like Jon -- he’s a three-position linebacker,” Emery said. “We felt it was very important that if we were going to take a linebacker in the second round, that we get somebody who can immediately fill in at all three spots. If one of our starters was not available due to injury, that he could fill in immediately and we would have a good football player in place right now.
“Obviously he’ll be given the opportunity to earn a starting job. We see him as a future starter.”
The Bears not only liked the fact that Bostic excelled in the SEC, but that he shows the intelligence to lead the Bears defense. Emery said that when Bostic came to Chicago to visit with the team, he showed high “football aptitude” and the ability be be a quarterback of the defense. They also used the No. 50 overall pick to select Bostic because he was one of the fastest linebackers in this year’s draft class.
Bostic may not start on day one, but he could work his way into the starting lineup quickly. The Bears selected Bostic with hopes that he would eventually be Urlacher’s replacement. If he shows he doesn’t have the ability to fill Urlacher’s large shoes, the Bears may turn back to the 2014 draft for another try.
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