Last year, it was clear that the Chicago Bears were going to target a running back with their first pick in the NFL Draft. Which is exactly what they did when they traded up in the third round to nab David Montgomery.
This year, it’s a little more tricky. There’s not just one main area of need. In fact, there’s a few on both sides of the ball. Which makes it a little less clear exactly what general manager Ryan Pace will do with his pair of second-round picks.
In Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft, he has the Bears landing two offensive weapons that will help whoever lines up under center for Chicago in 2020 — either Mitchell Trubisky or Nick Foles.
With the 43rd overall pick, Kiper has the Bears targeting Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet. Chicago’s need at the tight end position is not lost on everyone, as evidenced by the many draft experts that have the Bears targeting a tight end with one of their two second-round picks.
I’m not sold on Jimmy Graham making an impact this season, and neither Trey Burton nor Adam Shaheen has worked out in Chicago. Kmet is the best tight end in an unspectacular class, but the talent is there for him to be a good blocker and receiver. This pick comes from the Raiders in the Khalil Mack trade, and the Bears still have their own at No. 50.
Kmet is the best tight end prospect in this draft class, and it’s possible that the Bears are one of the first teams to draft a tight end. If that’s indeed the direction Pace is headed, Kmet would be a good fit for Chicago, who is desperate for production out of the tight end position.
But the offensive weapons don’t stop after Kmet. With the 50th overall selection, Kiper has Chicago landing Penn State receiver KJ Hamler, who could become a dynamic playmaker alongside Allen Robinson in this offense. Well, with adequate quarterback play.
Whether it’s Nick Foles or Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback in 2020, the Bears need weapons. That’s why I got them a tight end at No. 43, and that’s why I’m going with a wide receiver here. Hamler, who is only 5-foot-9, 178 pounds, is explosive in space and can play in the slot or outside. Though he wasn’t able to work out at the combine because of a hamstring injury, I feel comfortable saying he’s one of the fastest players in the class. His problem last season was drops — he had nine. If he can get that corrected, Chicago will have a really good player on its hands.
There have been many positions on offense that have garnered attention — tight end, offensive line, quarterback — but receiver hasn’t been mentioned as often. Chicago is still in need of a speedy receiver, and Hamler figures to fit the bill.
The Bears currently have seven draft picks, but they only have two selections in the first four rounds. The Bears have two second-round picks, as well as one pick in the fifth round and two picks both in the sixth and seventh rounds.
