Grading the Bears Pick: DB Zah Frazier

Tanner Pearson - USA Today Sports

Dustin Riese - Senior Writer - 5 hours ago

As the Bears moved along through the NFL draft and got into their late-round selections, there were faced the fine line that every general manager faces. For one, the Bears had the opportunity to fill their remaining needs, as that is the goal for every team entering the draft.

They were also in a position to take the best player available regardless of position as they aimed to fill their roster with as much depth as possible. Ryan Poles elected to go with the second of those two options in round five and made UTSA cornerback Zah Frazier the 169th pick of the NFL draft in the fifth round.

Considering what the Bears had to address at the time of this pick, this is one of those picks that you may be able to look back on as a steal, as many feel this was an excellent pick for Chicago. Not only does he have NFL size for the cornerback position at 6-3, but he is also a physical player despite having just a 186-pound frame. Add in his 32 7/8-inch arms, and Frazier’s NFL Draft profile prospect grade puts him in the “good backup with the potential to develop into a starter” category.

To get a player with that type of potential this late in the draft has to make you feel good as a Bears fan, and it goes to show the amount of homework Ben Johnson and the front office did on this entire class. When you look at what Frazier did in college, he is the definition of a late bloomer, as his first two seasons didn't offer much of anything.

Frazier combined for 10 tackles in 15 games over his first two seasons and didn't do much of anything else in the secondary. Then came this past season, where Frazier not only played in 12 games, but managed to finish the season with 24 tackles, one coming as a tackle for loss. However, his play on the back end stood out as he would've been a day two option had he played this way his entire career.

Not only did Frazier force his first career fumble this season, but he also came away with nine pass deflections and six interceptions, which ranked in the top 10 in the nation. Granted, most of those interceptions didn't result in a return, but having a player capable of getting a ball at any point in the game is crucial for any defense, and Frazier brings that ability with him.

Listed as the 24th best cornerback in this year's class, his 4.36 speed makes him an intriguing option as he instantly becomes the fastest cornerback in the Bears' defensive backs room. Always seen as a day-three option given his lack of production in his first two seasons, the long-limbed Frazier was impressive once his snap count reached starter level.

Frazier is long, fast, and athletic, but upright and gawky in transitions, making him susceptible to man coverage, as he is better suited in a zone coverage defensive scheme. He stays connected to all forms of vertical routes and uses his length/leaping ability to shade deep windows for the quarterback. He sees well from zone coverage and can burst/stride into plays on the football that some can’t get to.

One of the older prospects in the entire class, as he turns 25 before the start of the season, Frazier has all the traits you look for in a defensive back, and the more reps he gets, the more likely it is for him to become a rotational piece for this team.

Grading the Pick B-:

I personally like this pick for the Bears, even if cornerback wasn't considered a need. His speed, size, and overall athletic ability make him one of the more intriguing prospects, and he is a player that Dennis Allen will love to work with.

His lack of experience is a concern, but you saw what happened when given starter reps this past season, as he was one of the more productive defensive backs in the game. Had that production been with his entire career, Frazier would have been a top 50 selection, and that has to give the Bears plenty of hope as they may have found a diamond in the rough.