LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Longer. Faster. Stronger.
That was a recurring theme with the Bears‘ Day 3 defensive selections, linebacker Ruben Hyppolite and defensive back Zah Frazier.
Though there was an expectation that Chicago might select a running back with the No. 109 pick in the draft, general manager Ryan Poles pivoted and traded back when Bhayshul Tuten and Cam Skattebo fell off the board ahead of the Bears’ pick.
Chicago returned their fourth-round pick to the Bills, which had been reacquired by the Bears via Buffalo in a pick swap yesterday, in exchange for picks No. 132 and No. 169.
At No. 132, Chicago opted for Hyppolite out of the University of Maryland. Drafting a linebacker shouldn’t come as a surprise, considering the Bears’ lack of depth at the position.
However, Hyppolite wasn’t somebody who was thought too highly of on external boards. Projected as an undrafted free agent, Hyppolite didn’t even receive an invite to the NFL Scouting Combine last month.
But that wasn’t going to put a damper on the linebacker’s attitude ahead of the draft:
“The only thing I did was decide what I was going to do, and that was capitalizing on my Pro Day,” said Hyppolite on not being invited to Indianapolis. “Make the best out of that opportunity, then to just kill it on the visits and the Zoom calls I had throughout this process. I feel like I did that.”
As for his fit on Dennis Allen’s defense, he checks two boxes we’ve heard discussed with just about every Bears defensive acquisition this offseason: versatility and speed.
“[The Bears] told me I could fit anywhere, Hyppolite told reporters. “They told me my ability to cover and play the run is a great asset that I have. Just looking forward to getting in, getting in with the coaches.”
Hyppolite also didn’t care for the lack of respect on boards in the pre-draft process, opting to ignore the noise and bet on himself:
“I have the speed to play this position, I have the ability to play this position.”
After the draft, Ryan Poles shared: “One thing talking with [Allen] is we want to continue to add our team speed, and he can fly.”
That speed, including a whopping 4.39 40-yard dash at his pro day, is what made him so intriguing to the Chicago Bears. But it wasn’t the only attribute that made him worthy of a fourth-round pick.
Assistant director of college scouting Francis Saint Paul told us:
“We’re always looking to get faster as a team. But we’re getting more than just speed. We’re getting instincts, toughness, a leader who is really going to help our defense.”
Saint Paul wasn’t sure where Hyppolite fits in on the field at this point, but that’s where the versatility comes into play:
“Probably on the inside, probably Mike or Will. The coaches will speak to that. He has position flexibility where he could float through all three spots.”
Chicago’s next spot on the board came at No. 148, but the Bears traded back once again, this time with the Rams, acquiring Los Angeles’ sixth-rounder (No. 195 overall) and a 2026 fourth.
On the clock once again at No. 169, Poles made another peculiar choice, bringing in DB Zah Frazier.
Frazier’s route to the NFL was an unconventional one, to say the least. From Southern Illinois in 2019 to Coffeyville Community College in 2020, Frazier enters the league with just 596 snaps and 10 starts in three years of FBS play at the University of Texas-San Antonio.
Despite missing a majority of his 2023 season due to academic issues, which he explained as “an unfortunate situation that was out of my control,” he thrived as a starter with the Roadrunners in 2024, intercepting six passes to set the school’s single-season record.
At 6-foot-3 with a lean frame, speed is the name of the game for Frazier, who ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine.
After the pick, director of player personnel Trey Koziol said: “Zah is a long corner, ran a 4.3, showed ability to take the ball away, so yeah, anytime you can get bigger, longer, faster on the defensive side of the ball, it’s a win.”
Frazier was on Chicago’s board thanks to DBs coach Al Harris, who texted Poles in February: “Hey, there’s this guy Zah Frazier. He’s long. I think we can develop him as a press corner. I think we can get him in the fourth or fifth round.”
“It played out exactly that way, which was pretty cool,” Poles said after the draft. “Al was fired up for that one.”
As for areas where Frazier excels, Koziol added: “I think he has really good instincts and he’s got really good ball skills, so there are a couple of plays on there where he turns and he can find it, track it downfield, which is a really difficult thing for a lot of defensive backs to do.”
Updated: Saturday, April 26, 7:41 p.m.
