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          NFL Nation

          Is Jamal Adams a 'lock' for Bears at No. 3?

          • Jeff Dickerson, ESPN Staff WriterApr 6, 2017, 11:00 AM
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              Dickerson covers the Chicago Bears for ESPN's NFL Nation. He is the co-host of "Dickerson & Hood" on the ESPN Radio national network, and is heard in Chicago on ESPN 1000.
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          The 2017 NFL draft class contains a pair of safeties many believe will be top-10 picks: LSU’s Jamal Adams and Ohio State’s Malik Hooker.

          After running 4.56 at the combine, Adams turned in a much better 40 time at the Tigers’ pro day on Wednesday, which leads us to this week’s mailbag question.

          Jeff Dickerson: Is Adams a lock? That’s strong language, Bob. The draft is a fluid process where teams treat their boards like state secrets. The best-case scenario for the Bears – in their minds – is probably to trade the third overall pick. Moving back from No. 3, however, may not be an option in a draft without a consensus top quarterback.

          So, for the sake of argument, let’s say the Bears hold onto No. 3.

          I do think Adams is a player the Bears consider. Based on what he showed in college, Adams is an excellent tackler with off-the-chart intangibles in terms of leadership – both on the field and inside the locker room. The improved 40-yard dash time should also help him in the pre-draft process. However, since I’m not a scout, I can’t say for certain that Adams’ original 4.56 time in Indianapolis would’ve been a dealbreaker for certain teams. But I think we can all agree that faster is better, especially in the defensive backfield, where the Bears still need help.

          Hooker – seven interceptions in 2016 – is more of a traditional center fielder. The Bears absolutely like Hooker, but the big unknown is how the top decision-makers feel about his medicals. If you can get past the recent hernia and labrum surgeries then Hooker is another player in the mix at No. 3. Again, I’m not a team doctor, so I’m not privy -- nor should I be -- to that information. But, let’s assume the Bears feel comfortable with where Hooker is post-surgeries. If you draft Hooker and start him alongside Quintin Demps, the Bears just added two safeties that combined for 13 interceptions last year. As a team, the Bears picked off eight passes in 2016. So, you can understand the interest in Hooker.

          But the wildcard is what San Francisco does at No. 2. What if the 49ers take a quarterback? Well, in that case, Stanford’s Solomon Thomas becomes another name to consider – almost every draft analyst projects Myles Garrett to Cleveland at No. 1.

          The Bears didn’t send defensive coordinator Vic Fangio out to Stanford’s pro day for his health. There is no way the Bears take a defensive player that high without Fangio feeling good about it. Remember, Fangio was a big believer in Leonard Floyd prior to the Bears moving up to take him ninth overall last year. I’m not saying Fangio is the ultimate decision-maker, but he needs to be completely on board if Chicago invests the third overall pick in a defensive player.

          Stanford head coach David Shaw and Fangio worked together at the school under Jim Harbaugh in 2010. The NFL is all about connections. The Bears should have an excellent feel for what Thomas is all about. Thomas cannot be written off at No. 3, if he makes it past San Francisco.

          The Bears also recently visited with Ohio State cornerback Marshon Lattimore.

          So, there are options at No. 3. I think the only consensus that can be drawn three weeks before the draft is that it’ll be a mild upset – but not unheard of given the organization’s track record -- if the Bears don’t walk away with a good player on the first night.