NEWSLETTER
It’s heating up in NFL mock draft land. Here’s what the football world has in mind for the Chicago Bears….
Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay, ESPN
• Round 2, Pick 39: Kenyon Green, Guard, Texas A&M
• Round 2, Pick 48: Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida
• Round 3, Pick 71: Josh Paschal, Defensive end, Kentucky
The Bears were throwing out Dakota Dozier and Sam Mustipher at right guard during this past week’s voluntary minicamps, which … isn’t a tandem that will strike fear in the heart of defenders.
And with all due respect, neither will make Bears fans feel better about their offensive line situation. But picking Green, an All-American lineman described as a “bulldozing drive blocker” — whom the Bears were set to host for a visit — would lift spirits as much as he would lift the collective profile of the line.
Grabbing Elam with the Bears’ other second-round selection could be this year’s version of what the team did in 2020 when it took Jaylon Johnson with its second second-round selection. Elam earned SEC All-Freshman honors in 2019 and a second-team All-SEC nod in 2020. He has the type of measurements (6-1, 191 pounds, 30-7/8″ arms) that seem to fit what Matt Eberflus wants in a cornerback and ran the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds.
Rounding out the draft is Josh Paschal, the Kentucky defensive end whose pick would come as something of a surprise. But Paschal was a first-team All-SEC performer in 2021 and earned second-team All-American honors from CBS Sports. And you can never have too many talented pass-rushers.
Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune
• Round 2, Pick 39: Tyler Smith, Offensive tackle, Tulsa
• Round 2, Pick 48: Kaiir Elam, Cornerback, Florida
Just like McShay at ESPN, Biggs uses the Bears’ first second-round pick to address the gaping hole along the offensive line. But instead of Kenyon Green, it’s Tulsa OT Tyler Smith:
“Some believe Smith will be taken in the first round because he’s a physical performer who should be able to play right tackle immediately. He has the athletic ability to project as a left tackle, which might appeal to GM Ryan Poles, who hasn’t yet made enough moves to rebuild the line.”
The left tackle competition is a fluid one. And Smith, who checks in at 6-5 and 324 pounds, has the athletic build and potential to be a lockdown presence on the blindside.
And just as Kiper did with the Bears’ second pick, Biggs uses the selection to take Florida’s Kaiir Elam.
“The Bears have a need for wide receivers, but don’t minimize the situation at cornerback,” Biggs writes. “Elam has excellent size at 6-foot-2, 196 pounds and should be able to start immediately.”
Chad Reuter, NFL Media
• Round 2, Pick 39: Treylon Burks, Wide receiver, Arkansas
• Round 2, Pick 48: Arnold Ebiketie, Edge rusher, Penn State
.@chad_reuter's seven-round mock draft, Round 2: Bears select WR Treylon Burks with first of two pickshttps://t.co/17DOr5Ol4j pic.twitter.com/3MfhlQ3iLt
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) April 22, 2022
I can’t ignore the buzz surrounding Burks and the Bears right now. It began in early April, when reports came out suggesting that Burks — long viewed as a virtual first-round lock — was seeing his stock slip out of the first round. And just four days ago, the Bears were planning a visit with Burks. Put two and two together, and maybe Burks being the first of the Bears’ two second-round picks is more realistic than previously believed.
Few receivers in this class have this résumé:
The Arkansas product checks in at 6-3 and 225 pounds, which gives him the ideal build of a boundary receiver a team like the Bears would dram about lining up on the other side of the field from Darnell Mooney. Burks is one of college football’s most accomplished pass-catchers. He earned SEC All-Freshman Team honors in 2019, second-team all-conference nods in 2019 and 2020, and first-team All-SEC distinction in 2021. His most productive season came in his final year with the Razorbacks, catching 66 passes for 1,1014 yards and 11 touchdowns. He even added 14 carries, 112 rushing yards, and a ground score for good measure. There are a bunch of high-upside receivers in this draft. But Burks’ résumé is a doozy.
As for the Bears’ *OTHER* second-round pick, Arnold Ebiketie is a new name on our draft radar — but one that piques my interest. Ebikete was a monster for the Nittany Lions last year, putting up 18 tackles-for-loss and 9.5 sacks. For good measure, he added a pair of blocked kicks en route to first-team All-Big Ten honors. Who wouldn’t want that on the squad?
To be honest, the Bears don’t necessarily need to stock up on pass-rushers now. But flipping that position by adding younger players is something I’ll never say no to if the opportunity arises.
