Chicago Bears Mock Draft 2.0
Draft day is only two weeks away, and the Bears are still one of the most unpredictable teams.
They could go in countless different directions.
In my first mock draft, I had the Bears selecting their left tackle of the future in Armand Membou, adding a running back, defensive end, and other depth pieces.
This time around, I wanted to try something different to showcase the various possibilities we could see on draft night.
Round 1
The Chicago Bears currently hold the 10th pick in the NFL draft, and they have so many options. They don’t have any major holes to fill after fortifying their offensive line and adding some strength on the defensive line via trades and free agency. I believe there are several prospects the Bears will be interested in taking at 10, and if they aren’t available, a trade down seems likely.
More importantly, I think the Bears’ approach will be to take the best player available.
To illustrate another possible draft night scenario for the Bears, I wanted to review an alternative mock draft using the Pro Football Network mock draft simulator.
Here is how the first nine picks went:
- Titans – Cam Ward – QB (Miami)
- Browns – Travis Hunter – WR/CB (Colorado)
- Giants – Will Campbell – OT/OG (LSU)
- Patriots – Abdul Carter – Edge (Penn State)
- Jaguars – Armand Membou – OT (Missouri)
- Raiders – Will Johnson – CB (Michigan)
- Jets – Mason Graham – DT (Michigan)
- Panthers – Shemar Stewart – Edge (Texas A&M)
- Saints – Tet McMillan – WR (Arizona)
Players the Bears Should Consider
Tyler Warren
Tyler Warren, the tight end from Penn State, was easily my second option at #10 for the Bears. He is one of the few blue-chip prospects in this year’s draft and is an elite weapon. Warren would be an excellent target in the Bears’ offense alongside Cole Kmet. His ability to gain yards after the catch is valuable, and he’s physical as a blocker.
After hearing Ben Johnson praise Warren as “the ultimate football player” and that Dennis Allen feels like he would be a nightmare to defend, it was difficult to pass him up. I just felt like the Bears’ need for a different position is greater than their need for an elite tight end.
Colston Loveland
If the Bears were going to select a tight end in round one, I could see them trading down to select Michigan tight end Colston Loveland. Loveland is essentially a big wide receiver. He is a natural hands catcher and a fluid athlete. His basketball background shows up on tape when he attacks the ball. I view him as a chess piece Ben Johnson could move around in his offense.
The Bears would be able to trade down and add more draft capital. However, a certain prospect forced me to stick and pick at 10.
Mike Green
Mike Green was someone I selfishly wanted to take. The edge rusher from Marshall is such an incredible athlete and can get to the quarterback, which is something the Bears are desperate for. However, the more I think about it, the more I don’t think he’s the Bears’ type.
Green doesn’t fit the size profile that Dennis Allen’s defensive ends typically possess. He also has some character concerns, and Ryan Poles has been reluctant to pull the trigger on such players in the past.
Malaki Starks
A prospect who doesn’t get enough love is Georgia safety Malaki Starks. Starks is a true ball hawk in the secondary with elite ball skills. He’s an effective run defender who plays with immense quickness. It feels like Starks is one of those prospects that is “bust-proof,” like he can’t possibly be bad. The Bears could trade down if they wanted to land him, but safety is not their biggest need.
Abdul Carter
A draft strategy has been circulating on social media, and it’s a wild one. The idea is that the Bears would trade up in the draft to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. Carter is easily the best edge rusher and is one of the top two players in the class. The Bears would have to move into the top 5 to select Carter, and the price would be high.
However, Carter is a special prospect with an exceptionally high ceiling. Will the Bears trade up? I highly doubt it, even though it’s a fun conversation to have.
10th Pick // Ashton Jeanty – Running Back (Boise State)
PHOTO: Two Rewin/Facebook
Whenever Ashton Jeanty falls to the Bears at #10, I feel obligated to draft him. The superstar running back from Boise State was polarizing last season. His stats were absurd, putting up 2,601 rushing yards, 138 receiving yards, and 30 total touchdowns. But when you watch Jeanty play, it’s even better. The first time I ever watched him play was in their game against Oregon this past season, where Jeanty rushed for 192 yards and three touchdowns. He dominated the Oregon defense, bouncing off tacklers and outrunning everyone down the field. I had never seen a running back like that in my life.
Jeanty has a wide range of skills and abilities, but his contact balance is his superpower. The way he bounces off defenders and continues running full speed is remarkable. He’s only 5’8”, and somehow, people can’t bring him down. He possesses excellent vision and advanced skills in pass protection. In Ben Johnson’s offense, working alongside D’Andre Swift, Jeanty would be a perfect match. He gives the Bears a three-down running back with the skills to become the best in the NFL.
This is easily my dream selection for the Bears in the first round.
Round 2
After taking a running back in round one, the Bears need to focus on the trenches. There were some talented prospects at the top of the second round, and I loved who I was able to land for the Bears.
39th Pick // Kenneth Grant – DT (Michigan)
It’s highly unlikely that Kenneth Grant will fall to the second round, but on the off chance he does, the Bears have to select him. After adding Grady Jarrett in free agency to the group of Gervon Dexter and Andrew Billings, the Bears still need one more DT to play quality minutes. I believe Grant would be an ideal addition to the D-line.
The Michigan defensive tackle has been overshadowed in the draft process by teammate Mason Graham. Graham is a superstar, but Grant shouldn’t be overlooked. At 6’4” and 331 lbs, Kenneth Grant is a freak of nature. He’s extremely powerful and has a dominant bull rush, but his agility and quickness are impressive. Grant has a quick first step off the line of scrimmage, and when he engages with a blocker, he’s shown a variety of pass rush moves, including a swim move, rip, club, and occasional spin moves. In the run game, Grant’s size and strength allow him to fend off blocks, proving to be a consistent run stopper.
If I had to pick my favorite option for the Bears in round two, it would be Kenneth Grant. While it’s unlikely he’ll be available, the kid from Merrillville, Indiana, is special.
41st Pick // Josh Conerly Jr. – OT (Oregon)
In my first mock draft, I had the Bears drafting their future left tackle in Armand Membou. Since I went with Jeanty this time, I still wanted to land someone in the early rounds. So with the 41st pick, I had the Bears selecting Oregon LT Josh Conerly Jr.
Protecting Caleb Williams will be a priority next season, and Conerly is an elite pass protector. He has outstanding technique and natural athleticism. While he’s not the biggest tackle prospect, Conerly makes up for it with his steady pad level. His biggest strength is protecting the quarterback, but he’s capable of getting out in space and making downfield blocks as well.
Braxton Jones is in the last year of his rookie contract and has yet to prove he can be the team’s long-term starter. Conerly provides some insurance at that position and immediate depth for the O-line.
Round 3
In the third round, I felt the Bears needed to add someone who specialized in affecting the quarterback. With a noticeable need at edge rusher, there was one prospect who stuck out to me.
72nd Pick // Bradyn Swinson – Edge (LSU)
I know I just talked about how Dennis Allen prefers bigger edge rushers in his defense, but the Bears need someone with pass-rushing juice. If you’re looking for someone to fit that mold, Bradyn Swinson is the man for the job. The LSU pass rusher is explosive off the edge and can beat tackles with his first step. Swinson also has high-level hand usage and elite athleticism.
At just 250 lbs, he struggles to set the edge and stop the run consistently. But the Bears would be drafting him to pressure the quarterback, and with 8.5 sacks last season, I believe Swinson would be capable of that.
Montez Sweat and Dayo Odeyingbo will be the starters off the edge next season. This allows Swinson to come off the bench and play during passing downs, where he can thrive.
Round 5
Given how this draft has gone so far, this pick could’ve only been one position: safety.
148th Pick // Malachi Moore – Safety (Alabama)
The Bears have two extremely talented safeties in Kevin Byard and Jaquan Brisker. They also have Jonathon Owens as a depth player, but they need one more rotational guy. Kevin Byard is in his 30s, and Jaquan Brisker has a concerning injury history, including multiple concussions.
With the 148th pick, I had the Bears drafting Alabama safety Malachi Moore.
Moore is a smaller safety at 5’11” and 196 lbs, but he’s very athletic. He’s excellent in both man and zone coverage and possesses impressive ball skills. In terms of tackling, he’s very reliable and can wrap players up. His versatility makes him a great fit for the Bears, as they’ll be able to play him at different positions and even on special teams. Moore should be a great backup safety for the Bears and can hopefully step in if Byard or Brisker goes down.
Round 7
Drafting in the seventh round is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. Most players don’t stay on NFL rosters for very long, and there are very few starters who emerge.
For the Bears, I wanted to hone in on positions of need and draft players who I believe can make some type of impact on the roster.
233rd Pick // Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. – Wide Receiver (Ole Miss)
The Bears’ wide receiver room is close to being complete. They already had D.J. Moore, Rome Odunze, and Tyler Scott on the roster. In free agency, they added Olamide Zaccheaus and Devin Duvernay. I would argue they need a sixth guy to make their 53-man roster, which is why I had them drafting Antwane “Juice” Wells Jr. from Ole Miss.
I had the Bears drafting Wells in my last mock draft, and I had to do it again. The Bears need a receiver with size and physicality. Wells is a big body and would bring the physicality they need. He’s a talented player who never lived up to the hype at Ole Miss. I’m hoping Wells could do enough to make the Bears’ roster.
240th Pick // Thomas Fidone – Tight End (Nebraska)
The Bears have a very good tight end in Cole Kmet, who I would argue is a top-10 tight end in the league. They recently signed Durahm Smythe as a backup to be a reliable blocker. But the Bears still need another tight end who can be a weapon in the passing game. With the 240th pick, I went with Nebraska tight end Thomas Fidone.
He’s a 6’5” and 243 lb tight end who runs a 4.70 forty-yard dash. Fidone is a natural pass-catcher and has some juice after the catch. I think he has the upside to be a reliable target in the NFL and someone Ben Johnson would love in his offense.
We are just two weeks away from the NFL draft, and the Bears’ strategy is still a mystery.
Given their off-season additions thus far, they have a lot of flexibility in the draft.
In this mock, I had the Bears taking the superstar running back Ashton Jeanty, a future left tackle, a powerful defensive tackle, an athletic edge rusher, and other depth pieces.
I believe the Bears’ landing Jeanty in the first round is the best-case scenario. He’s a unique talent at a position of need, and picking him would open up the rest of the draft to focus on the trenches.
PHOTO: Two Rewin/Facebook
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