The Chicago Bears found an immediate plug-and-play starter at inside linebacker when they drafted Georgia’s Roquan Smith in the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Although that move was received to a lot of fanfare - and rightfully so - the Bears may have also found another future starter at the position with their fourth-round pick, Western Kentucky’s Joel Iyiegbuniwe.
The pick was a surprising one for many, considering the fact that Chicago had drafted an inside linebacker just three rounds before. Plus, Iyiegbuniwe (pronounced ee-yay-BOO-nee-way) had fallen under the radar for most of the time leading up to the draft.