NEWSLETTER
Finally, the 2020 NFL Draft is taking shape.
Sure, we still have free agency to bulldoze through next week. But once we clear that hurdle, all eyes will be on the draft. And while there will be an obvious focus at the top of the draft and throughout Round 1, Bears fans will likely take a laid-back approach to the round and watch from afar. Then, the real fun begins.
Larry Mayer of the Bears’ official website shared where the team will be picking in April’s draft. This is what the Bears’ selections have fallen:
Thankfully, the Bears were able to net draft picks via the Mack trade, Howard deal, and as compensation for losing Adrian Amos in free agency. Otherwise, GM Ryan Pace would be working with just four of his own picks. That doesn’t seem like fun from a team-building perspective.
So what could the Bears do with these picks? Well, there is no shortage of ideas. Here’s one that piqued my interest:
My first of roughly 8 million @TheDraftNetwork Mock Drafts now that compensatory picks have been added
A shameless triple-double dip, although Claypool could also be characterized as a TE pic.twitter.com/WnHoIHFi96
— BradOTC (@BradOTC) March 11, 2020
The Draft Network’s mock draft machine is one of my favorite internet tools. It’s great for killing time, simulating NFL Draft scenarios, and providing an opportunity to get to know some prospects who might not be on your mind. I encourage you to give it a shot on your own free time.
In the meantime, I took the liberty of going through a full seven-round mock draft. Here is who I would select if I was running a mock draft for the Bears:
- J.K. Dobbins, RB, Ohio State
- Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State
- Harrison Bryant, TE, Florida Atlantic
- Lynn Bowden, WR, Kentucky
- Michael Divinity Jr., EDGE, LSU
- Jon Runyan, OT, Michigan
- Jaylinn Hawkins, S, California
Despite needs at other places, I couldn’t pass up the idea of taking the No. 24 ranked player (Dobbins) with the 43rd pick. It was too much of a value, one that could really bring a boost to a much-maligned running game. And because of that, I passed on an opportunity to draft Jalen Hurts. But I made up for it with Anthony Gordon, another QB prospect who intrigues me.
This is what a mock draft would look like if I took the best player available at a position deemed to be a need:
- Grant Delpit, S, LSU
- Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
- Jared Pinkney, TE, Vanderbilt
- David Woodward, LB, Utah State
- D.J. Wonnum, EDGE, South Carolina
- Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State
- James Lynch, DL, Baylor
- Alex Taylor, OT, South Carolina State
Interesting enough, the most balanced class is one where I went into it thinking best player at a position of need. This one touches all the bases. Well, except quarterback, running back, and interior offensive lineman. Otherwise, all of the team needs – as listed by The Draft Network – are filled.
Finally, this mock simulates the best player available, no matter the position:
- K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
- Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, LSU
- Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
- Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida
- Lynn Bowden, WR, Kentucky
- Jauan Jennings, WR, Tennessee
- Aaron Parker, WR, Rhode Island
- Jeff Thomas, WR, Miami
OK, well, that was (1) unexpected and (2) less-than-ideal. I can’t imagine the Bears taking six wide receivers with their eight picks. It’s unfathomable, really. But they were those were the best players on the board when it was my time to pick. So I guess let’s keep that in mind when we’re screaming at the television for the Bears to take the best guy available.
Well, that was fun! Can’t wait to do it again in a few hours!
