NEWSLETTER
Evaluating college football’s best and brightest is going to be a challenge this year. And with the season beginning on uncertain grounds, I’m not sure how many worthwhile mock drafts we’ll get this fall and winter.
So with that being said, Matt Miller’s mock draft at Bleacher Report is probably the last one we’ll look at before the start of the NFL season. In fact, there’s a chance it’s the last one we’ll dive into for some time. And while things can change in the future, I went into this wanting to dive into this particular mock. Because unlike others, it doesn’t focus on the Chicago Bears taking a quarterback with their first-round pick. Instead, Miller predicts the team addresses another position of need with its pick.
Miller predicts Chicago will pick Michigan offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield with the 17th pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. He views Mayfield as a plug-and-play lineman who can replace Charles Leno Jr. or Bobby Massie. But before we dive into that aspect, let’s talk about Mayfield. Mayfield played with four four starters who went in last spring’s draft. And for what it’s worth, ESPN’s Todd McShay ranked Mayfield as his No. 20 prospect for the 2021 draft back in May.
To be fair, it was a ridiculously early look into the future. But one that offered a glimpse at the future. And any future that sees the Bears with an improved line play is one I want to live in. Speaking of which, I suppose it’s time to address the elephant(s) in the room.
Replacing offensive’ tackles isn’t a priority at the moment. Leno and Massie are set to start the 2020 season, and there’s still hope for a turnaround. However, it’s something to keep in mind for the future. Leno will be entering his age 30 season when the 2021 campaign kicks off. As for Massie, he’ll be 32. The aging curve for an offensive lineman can hit hard and suddenly. Look no further than Kyle Long for an example of how quickly it can go. Between the aging curve and cap considerations, I suppose it’s never too early to look into the future. The Bears could save an estimated $6.2M by cutting Leno and $5.4M with Massie in 2021, according to OverTheCap.com’s data.
Ultimately, considering Chicago’s needs along the offensive line, drafting a future lockdown tackle feels like a good investment.
On the other hand, Miller’s mock leaves me with mixed feelings. For instance, the Bears picking 17th means they aren’t projected to be bad. Or at least, bad enough to land a pick high enough to snag a potential franchise quarterback. By the time the Bears go on the clock, Trevor Lawrence, Trey Lance, and Justin Fields will be off the board. Picking 17th puts Chicago in a position where it is still unable to find a viable long-term solution at QB. Thinking abut it that way is incredibly frustrating.
Then again, we’re seven months away from worrying about the draft. So let’s not jump too far down that rabbit hole right now. However, check in with me in a few weeks and see how I feel.
