NEWSLETTER
There are just 99 days until the 2020 NFL Draft.
Sure, 99 days seems like a long time from now (Michael: it’s also the number of problems Jay-Z has), but things move quickly in the NFL. And before you know it, April 23rd will be here and the Cincinnati Bengals will be on the clock.
Unfortunatly, the Chicago Bears don’t have a pick in the first round this year, but that won’t stop us from obsessing over every mock draft that comes our way. In fact, with two second-round picks, we may have even more of a reason to dig deeper than usual. The Bears gotta get those ones right. We gotta know what’s possible.
With all that in mind, let’s dig into some mocks!
DANE BRUGLER, THE ATHLETIC
Brugler’s second mock draft sends players on both sides of the ball to the Bears.
With the 43rd pick, Brugler has the Bears taking Notre Dame tight end Cole Kmet. We recently highlighted Kmet as a prospect to keep an eye on after his recent declaration for the NFL Draft – his breakout 2019 season (43 catches, 515 yards, 6 TD) has him near the top of the rankings at his position. And considering the team’s needs at TE, plucking one with a second-round selection isn’t the worst idea.
Down the line, Brugler sends Alabama defensive tackle Raekwon Davis to Chicago with the 50th overall selection. The Bears missed Akiem Hicks’ presence at the line of scrimmage when he went down with an injury. And while Bilal Nichols remains a solid starter, upgrading that group and rebuilding the depth the team had during the 2018 season should be an under-the-radar priority for Chicago. And, c’mon, how am I — as a fan of the Wu-Tang Clan — supposed to say no to the idea of the Bears drafting a guy named Raekwon? Can’t do it.
LUKE EASTERLING, DRAFT WIRE
Given the Bears pressing needs at several positions – and their history of unpredictability on draft day – it’s not surprising to see different mocks attack their picks in different ways – and that’s just what Easterling did with his Bears forecast.
This Draft Wire mock has the Bears choosing Oregon offensive lineman Calvin Throckmorton. In addition to a fun name, Throckmorton (gosh, that’s fun to type!) was part of Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded college offensive line and was the right tackle who earned All-Pac-12 first-team honors.
According to PFF’s data, Throckmorton did not allow a sack, gave up just six pressures in 441 pass protection snaps, and the third best run-blocking grade among Pac-12 linemen. Considering the Bears’ possible long-term needs at the position, Throckmorton looks like someone who would be a welcome addition.
As for the 50th pick, Easterling sends Ohio State linebacker Malik Harrison to Chicago. The Bears could have an opening at inside linebacker if they don’t bring back Danny Trevathan or Nick Kwiatkoski in a starting role. And should the team decide to not spend on the position in free agency, then Harrison fits as a solution on draft day. Ohio State has been churning out top-notch defensive talent for years, and Harrison is the latest in a line of linebackers to garner positive draft buzz. Harrison has two years as a starter under his belt and showed an ability to do work in coverage and as a run defender. That versatility could make the middle of Chicago’s defense awfully entertaining to watch.
CHARLIE CAMPBELL, WALTER FOOTBALL
The latest from the folks at WalterFootball.com comes from Campbell, who, like Easterling, has the Bears taking an Oregon offensive lineman with one of their picks.
But instead of the right tackle, it’s the left guard: Shane Lemieux was first-team All-Pac-12 at guard and has been a solid starter for a few years now for the Ducks. Lemieux finished his college career making 52 consecutive starts and has been one of college football’s best offensive linemen in that time. In 2018, Lemieux graded out as the third highest-rated guard in the country, excelling in pass protection and run-blocking. Between his durability and skill, there is plenty like about his prospect states.
Campbell’s second selection for the Bears is one that eerily lines up with what GM Ryan Pace tends to do in the middle rounds. Safety Kyle Dugger from Lenoir-Rhyne is projected to go with the 50th pick in Campbell’s draft.
Here’s what Campbell had to say about the buzz Dugger was creating as a small school talent: “Sources at five different teams say Dugger has the potential to be a second-day pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. He totaled 30 tackles with two interceptions and four passes broken up in 2019. Team sources say Dugger has an excellent skill set as he is big and quick. … [A]nd he is said to play very fast, flying around the field.” Yep, sounds like a prospect hipster type of pick to me. There’s a belief Dugger could be a high riser in the draft. And since the Bears have a need at safety, perhaps his name is one to keep tabs on throughout the pre-draft process.
TANKATHON
You might be familiar with Tankathon because of its NBA Draft coverage, but the site also does good work highlighting and unearthing the NFL Draft’s notable prospects. And their mock drafts change periodically, which allows us to be on top of any number of different projections.
For example, Tankathon’s latest mock also has the Bears taking Lemieux with the 43rd pick. For more on Lemieux, look above. As for the team’s second pick in the round, this edition of the mock has the Bears taking Washington tight end Hunter Bryant.
Bryant is Tankathon’s second-highest-ranked tight end behind Kmet, but ahead of Purdue’s Brycen Hopkins. And statistically, you can see why Bryant is up there in the rankings. He caught 52 passes, picked up 825 yards, and scored three touchdowns last season. The Bears could use a playmaking tight end of Bryant’s ilk after their gaggle of tight ends mustered up a whole lotta nothing offensively last season. His blocking leaves something to be desired, but his route-running and pass-catching ability make him a highly sought after prospect.
