The Sun-Times’ Bears experts make their pick for who the team should draft with their first of two second-round picks Friday:
Patrick Finley: Alabama CB Trevon Diggs
While the Bears will undoubtedly be tempted by a receiver or pass-catching tight end — and they should be —there’s no bigger hole in their two-deep than starting cornerback. Six were drafted in the first round Thursday, and it’s a shock Diggs wasn’t one of them. He’s not the most technically sound player on the board, but the 6-1, 205-pounder would be a dynamic fit opposite the oh-so-steady Kyle Fuller. He has pedigree: Stefon Diggs’ kid brother played receiver as a freshman before becoming a starter at cornerback his last two seasons. He comes from the college game’s most dominant defensive program — just ask safety Eddie Jackson. (He worked out well.)
Jason Lieser: Clemson WR Tee Higgins
Higgins was widely thought to be a first-round pick, but several surprise picks bumped him out of the opening night. He put up 2,103 yards and 25 touchdowns over his sophomore and junior seasons at Clemson. The Bears have a lot of needs, but wide receiver is significant enough to justify pouncing on Higgins at No. 43. Hardly anyone expected him to be available this late — ESPN’s Mel Kiper had him in the top five at his position, and he has drawn comparisons to Bengals star A.J. Green — and the Bears can’t bypass his talent. He’s worth it even if they have to trade up a few spots to secure him.
Mark Potash: LSU S Grant Delpit
The Bears might have to trade up to get Delpit — and probably won’t do that with many holes to fill — but the instinctive, infectious Delpit has extreme value on a top-five defense with a star-laden front seven like the Bears. His “it” factor is reminiscent of former Bears safety Mike Brown — a second-round pick (39th overall) in 2000 after Brian Urlacher was taken ninth overall. Wide receiver (Notre Dame’s Chase Claypool), tackle (Houston’s Josh Jones, a first-round quality talent), tight end (Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet) and quarterback (Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts) are worthy targets if Delpit isn’t available.
