National Football League

Bears trade up 2 spots, take LB Floyd with 9th pick in draft

Published Apr. 29, 2016 12:19 a.m. ET

foxsports

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) The Chicago Bears took Georgia outside linebacker Leonard Floyd with the ninth overall pick in Thursday's draft after trading up two spots in a deal with Tampa Bay.

The 6-foot-6, 244-pound Floyd is long and elusive off the edge and could put up bigger numbers in Chicago than he did in college. He led the Bulldogs in sacks for the third straight year with 4 1/2 and tied for the team lead with 10 1/2 tackles for loss last season.

The way they struggled to make plays on defense last season, it was hardly a stretch to think the Bears would address that in the first round. Chicago finished last in the NFC North at 6-10.

Online:

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL