As the month of March continues, and all 32 franchises look ahead to the 2026 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears have a handful of needs to address, with safety being one of them. Getting younger and faster on defense will be a major priority for the Bears, and part of that will include finding players who fit Dennis Allen's defense.
For the Chicago Bears, this year's draft will represent a significant opportunity to continue adding to the foundation that was established during the first year of the Ben Johnson-Ryan Poles era. With four picks inside the top-100, including two in the second round, one name that should intrigue the Bears is LSU Tigers safety A.J. Haulcy.
Let's get into our scouting report on Haulcy.
A.J. Haulcy, LSU, (6-foot-0, 215 pounds)
From his NFL.com draft profile via Lance Zierlein:
"Haulcy, aka Mr. Give Me That, is a throwback safety with a compact, densely muscled frame and a pro feel for reading the field. He's a rare blend of ballhawk and enforcer who can scurry into passing lanes for takeaways or run through a receiver to break up a pass. His pattern recognition and instincts are top-notch and he's decisive in his reactions. A lack of sustained top-end speed could create mismatches in man coverage. He's more effective playing forward than he is at guarding large spaces in deeper coverages. He's rock-steady as a finisher but sees the missed tackle total tick higher as an open-field tackler. Haulcy's frame and game are pro-ready, though. He projects as a good NFL starter in a zone-heavy scheme."
Film:
Strengths:
- Has a clear understanding of route concepts and what wide receivers and tight ends will do when running routes.
- Football IQ and anticipation skills flash on tape.
- Productive player who has garnered significant attention as a ballhawk.
- Physical defender who plays a brand of football where he clearly imposes his will.
- Excellent when aiding teammates trying to bring down the ball carrier.
- Willing to really make his presence felt as a top-tier run defender.
- Pursuit ability is among the best in this class for safeties.
Weaknesses:
- Struggles to change directions due to choppy footwork and stiff hips.
- Lack of speed will see him struggle at the next level, especially against faster and quicker slot receivers.
- Should be considered as a liability in man coverage.
- Teams may see him as being a true two-high safety.
- Lack of speed makes it impossible for him to play in defenses that primarily utilize one safety looks.
Does Haulcy fit the Bears defense?
Projecting Haulcy's fit in the Bears defense becomes an interesting conversation. While Chicago, like any other team, should value his ability to be a physical presence who has a knack for being an enforcer and creating turnovers, teams will be turned away by his lack of speed against slot receivers and inability to hold up in man coverage. He's effective when trying to pursue ballcarriers all over the field but his tape shows a player who can't really recover when he gets beaten.
Haulcy could thrive next to veteran free agent acquisition Coby Bryant, but part of his success will come on the heels of a strong front seven that will allow him to be a solid run defender. Being one of the bigger safeties in this draft class, Haulcy will see a lot of action as a true box safety, and while that is coveted in Allen's defense, it's not the primary focus for the safety spot.
Conclusion:
Teams will look at Haulcy's production in college and the physical brand of football he plays to grade him out. He isn't the most athletic safety in this draft class, so that should push him down the board, making him a potential round two prospect. The talent and upside are there to develop into a multi-year starter and building block for a defense, but the lack of speed and recovery ability are two reasons he may never develop into one of the league's top players at his position.
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