The Chicago Bears 2012 Draft: Day Three posted by Joe Anello
In the final day of the 2012 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears continued to stockpile depth at a key defensive position after getting a jump start on days one and two. But they started the day off with a pick on the offensive side of the ball to load another bullet in offensive coordinator Mike Tice’s gun. A gun named Jay Cutler. (How did that metaphor work for everyone? I’m too tired to think it’s anything other than awesome.)
At pick 111 in round number four, GM Phil Emery selected tight end Evan Rodriguez out of Temple. At 6-2 and 244 pounds, Rodriguez was all over the field for the Owls, lining up at tight end, fullback, h-back, and receiver during his college career. In 2011, he racked up 35 receptions and two scores. He’s got 4.58 speed and is a reliable pass catcher, but as with so many tight ends these days he hasn’t excelled as an in-line blocker. He’s view by Chicago as a combo fullback and tight end who can get vertical for Jay’s downfield throws. Emery went on to state that Rodriguez has a chance to compete for a starting role, which could put incumbent fullback Tyler Clutts on the outs. Tice may like Rodriguez’s versatility too much to keep him on the bench behind Clutts.

Off the field, Rodriguez has a few missteps in his past. He faced trespassing and disturbance charges while he attended West Virginia in 2007 and was arrested for disorderly conduct in 2009. However, Emery made it clear in his talk with the media that the Bears did their homework on the tight end and felt confident in their assessment of his character.
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