With the NFL Draft season in full swing, there’s no better time for a mock draft.
The Chicago Bears went into the offseason with a lot of holes on offense and defense. They filled out some defensive holes but it still needs work, and on the offensive side, they traded for Nick Foles and signed Jimmy Graham.
General manager Ryan Pace still needs to address the offensive line, cornerback, tight end, wide receiver, and safety. Yes, I know they just signed Graham but do you really feel comfortable with him playing tight end all year? I sure don’t.
The offensive line was the biggest problem for the Bears last year and it led to Mitchell Trubisky having a down year, and it also led to the running game not doing so well. So heading into the draft, addressing the offensive line should be at the top of the list.
Chicago’s wide receiver core is good, but I still think we can add to it, especially following the departure of Taylor Gabriel. It’d be nice if Pace went out and signed Robby Anderson in free agency, but his price tag is a bit too high for the Bears. So it looks like Pace will have to go get a receiver in the draft.
One of the most underlying needs for the Bears heading into the offseason is cornerback. Kyle Fuller has turned into one of the best corners in the NFL, however, Chicago, lacks solid depth around him. Although Buster Skrine is set in the slot, the Bears could use an outside presence to help Fuller. Instead of drafting a cornerback in the draft, the Bears can still go out and sign a guy like Jimmy Smith.
The Bears have seven picks in the 2020 NFL Draft, including a pair of second-rounders, one fifth round selection, as well as two picks in each the sixth and seventh rounds.
Without further ado, let’s get this mock draft on:
Ezra Cleveland, OL (Boise State)
2nd Round, No. 43 overall
The Bears are in need of offensive line help if they want to see Trubisky or Nick Foles and the run game succeed, they need to address it early. Boise State tackle Ezra Cleveland is someone that comes to mind, as he’s recently shot up the draft boards after having one of the best NFL Scouting Combine performances by any player.
Ezra, who clocks in at 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, could potentially be one of the best and one of the most athletic offensive lineman in the class. And if he’s sitting there when the Bears pick at No. 43, they should most definitely take him.
Antoine Winfield Jr., S (Minnesota)
2nd Round, No. 50 overall
This offseason, the Bears ended up losing HaHa Clinton-Dix to the Dallas Cowboys, so safety is certainly a hole on defense for the Bears. Without a first-round pick this year, the Bears likely miss out on Grant Delpit and Xavier McKinney.
Antoine Winfield Jr. was a standout safety at Minnesota. He dealt with injuries during the 2017 and 2018 seasons, but he was an unanimous All-American last year. In 2019, he started in 13 games and led the team with 83 tackles, had three sacks and seven interceptions.
He’s projected to be a second-round pick and with the Bears having two picks in the second round, and safety being a big need for this defense, Pace has to bite the bullet and take him if he’s sitting there at pick No. 50.
Harrison Bryant, TE (Florida Atlantic)
5th Round, No. 163 overall
Even after the Bears signed Jimmy Graham, I still think they should add to the position. You just can’t rely on Trey Burton and Adam Shaheen staying healthy all year, and you just don’t know how good Graham will be with him being 33 years old and him not being in his “prime” anymore.
So, that’s where Harrison Bryant comes in. I know Bears fans want the team to draft Cole Kmet or Brycen Hopkins early, but I just don’t see it happening. Bryant’s value is all over the map, who knows if he’s going to be available in the fifth round, but if he is when the Bears come up to pick, draft him.
Kendall Coleman, EDGE (Syracuse)
6th Round, No. 196 overall
Pass rusher is a sneaky need for the Bears, even after signing Robert Quinn and adding Barkevious Mingo. Khalil Mack isn’t getting any younger, so there’s a need to address the position in the draft, in my opinion.
They won’t need to address the position early on in the draft because they have other needs, but taking a late-round flyer on a player like Syracuse’s Kendall Coleman wouldn’t hurt.
Jauan Jennings, WR (Tennesse)
6th Round, No. 200 overall
As previously discussed, the Bears are in need of a receiver to go along with Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller, Javon Wims and Riley Ridley. That’s where Tennessee’s Jauan Jennings comes into play for Chicago.
Obviously, it would be ideal to see guys like CeeDee Lamb, Henry Ruggs or even Jerry Jeudy be taken by the Bears. But without a first-round pick, they will have to look elsewhere. Jennings, who had a 4.72 40-time and 29.0 vertical jump at the NFL Combine, could be the guy.
Jake Hanson, IOL (Oregon)
7th Round, No. 226th overall
Jake Hanson has started 49 games at the center position while at the University of Oregon. I know the center position isn’t much of a need for the Bears, but you can plug Hanson in at center and move Whitehair to right guard if they end up not playing Alex Bars.
Cole McDonald, QB (Hawaii)
7th Round, No. 233rd overall
Now, this is a guy I’m really high on and would love it if the Bears ended up drafting him in the seventh round. With the Bears not having a first-round pick, guys like Joe Burrow, Tua Tagovailoa and Justin Herbert are out of the question if the Bears plan on adding to the quarterback position.
McDonald has the prototypical size to play quarterback — he’s 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds. In 2019, he threw for 4,135 yards with 33 passing touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Just to think that McDonald can become the next Patrick Mahomes is unbelievable.
