Pro Football Talk has the full selection order of the 2018 NFL Draft that starts with Pick No. 1 and ends with No. 256. This could be a nice little resource for us with the draft rapidly approaching.
And because you’re curious, the Bears have the following picks (Round-Overall pick): 1-8, 2-39, 4-105, 4-115, 5-145, 6-181, 7-224.
Peter King and Albert Breer of SI.com’s The MMQB run through four different (and plausible) scenarios for the top-12 picks, three of which send Notre Dame guard Quenton Nelson to Chicago. The fourth has Nelson dropping all the way down to No. 12 to the Bills, which is without a doubt the furthest we’ve seen this class’ top lineman prospect drop in a mock draft. Four quarterbacks being in play to be chosen in the top-10 will certainly make for some wild draft twists.
Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz of USA Today also has the Bears taking Nelson at No. 8 after four quarterbacks go off the board within the first five picks. MADNESS! Middlehurst-Schwartz views Nelson as the latest addition made with the mindset of aiding Mitch Trubisky’s development, adding that Nelson might have the highest floor and ceiling of anyone in this class. High praise.
Bucky Brooks believes the buzz surrounding the Browns taking Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen with the first pick is real. Brooks notes that GM John Dorsey has shown a tendency to draft players brimming with potential, even when players who were more productive in college were on the board. We don’t have to look far for an example as Dorsey traded up in last year’s draft to take quarterback Patrick Mahomes when two-time Heisman Trophy finalist and national championship winning quarterback Deshaun Watson was on the board. And hearing how Matt Nagy spoke of the process while meeting Mitch Trubisky makes me think he also would have been in play. This could point to the Browns taking the rocket-armed Allen and having him develop while Tyrod Taylor takes the starter’s snaps in Cleveland – much like the situation Kansas City created with Mahomes essentially redshirting behind Alex Smith.
I imagine a scenario where any of the top quarterbacks slip to this spot would push the Bears to shop the pick aggressively, recoup what was lost in last year’s trade to acquire Mitch Trubisky, and fill some much-needed holes on the roster. Perhaps a trade with the Bills makes sense because it would keep the Bears from dropping too far down the draft and keep them in play for an impact talent.
Eric Edholm of Pro Football Weekly has the Bears sticking at No. 8 despite this scenario (with UCLA’s Josh Rosen being the quarterback who drops) playing out in his third mock draft. With Chicago standing pat, Edholm sends Florida State safety Derwin James to the Windy City. The Bears are set at safety, but James isn’t someone who is a one-position wonder. The Seminoles used James as a linebacker, slot corner, in deep coverage, and as a rush linebacker. That kind of versatility would be welcomed with open arms by defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
Speaking of Rosen, Matt Miller’s most recent piece at Bleacher Report diving into what NFL teams really think of the UCLA signal caller is a must-read – even if your favorite team isn’t in the market to draft a quarterback.
Player comps are always tricky, but this one is worth highlighting for reasons we’ll get to momentarily:
University of Texas-San Antonio pass rusher Marcus Davenport dominated lesser competition and struggled early during Senior Bowl week. However, he made adjustments, improved as the week progressed, and played very well in the game itself. The adjustments he made and his improvement over the week suggest he takes to good coaching, which makes me wonder if Vic Fangio sees Aldon Smith (a pass rusher he helped develop into a stud in San Francisco) in Davenport. Had Davenport dominated Senior Bowl week from the outset, he would be a sure-fire top-10 pick. Instead, he has been mocked to the middle of the first round. But I can’t help but wonder if he is the kind of outside-the-box pick Chicago would make.
SB Nation’s Dan Kadar has the Bears improving their defense with an athletic playmaker with room to grow, but it’s not Davenport. Kadar’s latest mock sends Virginia Tech linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to Chicago, adding Edmunds won’t slide outside the top-10 if the Bears don’t take him. So perhaps don’t expect to see Edmunds as an available player if Chicago trades out of the No. 8 pick.
Zack Rosenblatt of NJ.com thinks the Bears in an enviable position at No. 8 because they’ll be in a place to take a high-end prospect who falls because of the early run on quarterbacks. Rosenblatt sees Georgia linebacker Roquan Smith, Florida State safety Derwin James, and Alabama defensive back Minkah Fitzpatrick as possibilities, but sends Edmunds to Chicago because of his “elite pass rushing potential.”
Adam Rank of NFL.com also has the Bears taking Edmunds (seriously, check out the consensus building around Edmunds if Nelson is off the board) in a mock draft exercise where he serves as a consultant telling teams what they should do with their first-round pick. Rank calls Edmunds “the missing piece” and compares him to Minnesota Vikings stud linebacker Anthony Barr. That’s good company to keep as far as comparisons are concerned.
In what is always a fun read, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell presents a mock draft where each first-round pick is traded. It’s a bit to keep up with, but it’s worth it. And I’m not saying that because the Bears would move up into the top-5 and take North Carolina State pass rusher Bradley Chubb, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.