The Chicago Bears drafted one of the largest prospects in the NFL draft in Florida State defensive tackle Eddie Goldman with the 2nd round, 39th pick overall.
Goldman is 6'4, 336 pounds with great playing strength. He came out of Washington, D.C. as a 5-star recruit and chose the Seminoles over Alabama, Auburn and other major college football powers. Goldman was an All-American (AP and Sports Illustrated in 2014, along with an All-ACC selection. Goldman finished his career with 62 tackles, 12.0 TFLs and six sacks over 36 games (27 starts).
He is excellent against the run and has the ability to take on and stack against double teams. Goldman also offers versatility, being able to play 5-tech, 3-tech or perhaps nose guard as well. That increases his value as a prospect.
He does not offer much as a pass rusher. The questions about Goldman will be about his ability to transition from run to pass, and whether he'll be willing to play through bumps and bruises and give good effort on every play.
Florida State has long been a producer of excellent defensive tackle talent. Goldman is the 19th defensive tackle drafted from Florida State since the NFL merger, joining Timmy Jernigan Everett Dawkins, Andre Fluellen, Letroy Guion, Mario Henderson, Brodrick Bunkley, Travis Johnson, Darnell Dockett, Corey Simon, Jerry Johnson, Larry Smith, Orpheus Roye, Carl Simpson, Eric Hayes, Gerald Nichols, Isaac Williams, Ron Simmons and Greg Johnson. 10 of those went on to play more than 50 career games.
Goldman is notoriously studious, and he spoke with SB Nation about just that.
Goldman's defining characteristic as a player -- besides his heft at 6'4, 336 pounds -- is perhaps his studiousness. Goldman's father used to show Goldman cut-up game tape of former NFL greats to help teach the game to his son.
The lessons stuck. Goldman wore No. 81 during his freshman year at Florida State in honor of Carl Eller, who was a fixture on the Minnesota Vikings' Purple People Eaters defense during the 1960s and 70s. He then switched to No. 90 in honor of two players: Tony Brackens of the 1996-2004 Jacksonville Jaguars, and Jay Ratliff, currently of the Chicago Bears after appearing in nine seasons with the Dallas Cowboys.