Michael

Okwo

Okwo isn’t especially big (5-11/232) or fast (4.69 forty) but was productive when healthy at Stanford. The Bears’ website noted that Okwo “compares favorably” with 2006 fourth-round pick Jamar Williams, his competition while Lance Briggs holds out of camp.

One wonders if the Bears are stashing a young player who wasn’t going to help much this season. They aren’t exactly deep at linebacker, though, and now won’t get anything from their second- and third-round picks this year. Okwo still has long-term IDP upside as Lance Briggs’ possible successor.

He’ll likely get a chance to compete to start when and if Lance Briggs moves on in 2008, but Okwo will be behind Hunter Hillenmeyer for the time being.

This is the best-case scenario for both sides. Michael Okwo and Jamar Williams can learn behind Briggs for a year and the Bears can make another run at the Super Bowl with their Pro Bowl weak-side linebacker. Briggs can leave after the season. Expect another 100+ tackle season from Briggs.

Schefter says Briggs hopes the Redskins and Bucs will step up efforts to acquire him via trade closer to training camp. If not, he’ll hold out. The Bears and Briggs remain at opposite ends of the spectrum in contract talks.

Okwo is healthy, so this comes as a bit of a surprise even though Chicago has numbers at linebacker. Okwo was the 94th pick overall in the ’07 draft.

He’s been a full participant at OTAs. Okwo, a third-round pick last year, could challenge SLB Hunter Hillenmeyer, but is a heavy underdog in that battle.

The Bears aren’t feeling urgent either, having drafted Michael Okwo in the third round and pitted him against Jamar Williams at weak-side linebacker. Briggs is expected to stage a holdout into training camp.

Okwo and Jamar Williams are the lead competitors to replace Briggs if he goes through with his holdout. Either could emerge as an IDP star.