Report: Bears Hosted Mario Edwards Jr. For Visit
By Dan Durkin--
(CBS) With the NFL Draft just over two weeks away, the Bears will be bringing players to Halas Hall for pre-draft visits and workouts. Florida State defensive end/outside linebacker Mario Edwards Jr. was recently brought in, per a report from The Baltimore Sun's Aaron Wilson.
Edwards was the USA Today's prep defensive player of the year in 2011 out of Billy Ryan High in Denton, Texas. His father, Mario Sr., played cornerback for the Seminoles and was part of their 1999 national championship team prior to being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the sixth round of the 2000 NFL draft.
Edwards was set to redshirt his true freshman season in 2012, but an injury forced him into action. He went on to become a two-year starter for the Seminoles who lined up in a variety of positions along the defensive front.
Although he never quite lived up to his potential in college, at just 20 years old, Edwards is an intriguing prospect who may blossom in the right environment. Physically, he's a first-round talent, but he's raw, which may lead to a slide to the early second round.
Given the Bears' transition to a 3-4 front and their signing of Pernell McPhee -- who, like Edwards, was used in a variety of roles and techniques in Baltimore -- Edwards is a match. He projects as a potential base 3-4 defensive end but has shown the quickness to rush as a stand-up outside linebacker.
Dan Durkin covers the Bears for CBSChicago.com and is a frequent contributor to 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter at @djdurkin.
