Monsters Of The Midwest

DRAFT SZN IS HERE, BABY!

With the draft just a few short weeks down the road, I completed a full seven-round mock draft, drafting in the shoes of new Bears GM Ryan Poles. While we don’t quite know how Poles will approach his first draft with full control over the front office yokes, I went pick-by-pick through the draft and snagged the guys I think would be a good fit if the board falls this way.

Da Bears are on the clock…let’s dive on in!

Round 2, Pick 39

Notable Players on Board:

• Jalen Pitre, DB – Baylor
• George Pickens, WR – Georgia
• Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
• Christian Watson, WR – NDSU
• Abraham Lucas, OT – Washington State
• Leo Chennal, LB – Wisconsin

The Pick:

• TRADE DOWN
  • Bears Get
    • 49
    • 98
    • 120
    • 2023 R5
  • Saints Get
    • 39
• Analysis
  • I heavily flirted with taking the best player on the board, Baylor DB Jalen Pitre, with this pick, but I liked the WR talent still on the board and was confident I’d be able to get one of Pickens/Ross/Watson at 48. Having my “cloud of players” there was just too easy to pass up at this point.

Round 2, Pick 48

Notable Players on the Board:

• Jalen Pitre, DB – Baylor
• Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
• Christian Watson, WR – NDSU
• Abraham Lucas, OT – Washington State
• Leo Chennal, LB – Wisconsin
• Nik Bonitto, Edge – Oklahoma

The Pick:

• TRADE DOWN
  • Bears Get:
    • 50
    • 62
    • 94
    • 121
    • 233
  • Chiefs Get:
    • 48
    • 71
    • 98
• Analysis
  • I was so close to drafting Pitre in this slot, but if I was the GM of this Bears team, I’m looking to build depth all across the roster. Pitre’s skillset would’ve complemented Eddie Jackson perfectly in Eberflus’ Cover 2 defense. With the haul I got in return only to move down two spots, the ability to add depth at multiple positions was too good to pass up.

Round 2, Pick 49

Notable Players on the Board:

• Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
• Christian Watson, WR – NDSU
• Abraham Lucas, OT – Washington State
• Leo Chennal, LB – Wisconsin
• Nik Bonitto, Edge – Oklahoma
• Christian Harris, LB – Wisconsin

The Pick:

• Christian Watson, WR – NDSU

Analysis:

• They say patience is a virtue (something Ryan Pace needed to hear a time or two). Watson was one of the guys I knew I’d be able to grab when I originally traded down and once Pitre came off the board at 49, this decision was EASY. At 6’4”, the kid can is a dynamic athlete and can flat out MOVE. The combination of size, speed and ball skills is exactly what the doctor ordered for Justin Fields. While it remains to be seen how he’ll fair against upgraded competition coming from an FCS school, I felt much better rolling the dice here knowing the haul of picks I was able to get from the two previous trades.

Round 2, Pick 49

Notable Players on the Board:

• Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
• Abraham Lucas, OT – Washington State
• Leo Chennal, LB – Wisconsin
• Nik Bonitto, Edge – Oklahoma
• Christian Harris, LB – Wisconsin
• Tyler Smith, G/T – Tulsa

The Pick:

• TRADE DOWN
  • Bears Get:
    • 51
    • 83
    • 124
  • Eagles Get:
    • 50
    • 94
    • 186

Analysis:

• The Eagles came calling and again, I couldn’t pass up the ability to increase my draft capital a bit. While I like the players on the board, I’m not in love with the value for the Bears at this point. Having the 50^th pick right behind me along with 51 made me feel very comfortable dealing with this to gain some value in the later rounds.

Round 2, Pick 49

Notable Players on the Board:

• Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
• Abraham Lucas, OT – Washington State
• Leo Chennal, LB – Wisconsin
• Nik Bonitto, Edge – Oklahoma
• Christian Harris, LB – Wisconsin
• Tyler Smith, G/T – Tulsa

The Pick:

• Abraham Lucas, OT – Washington State

Analysis:

• Lucas is an interesting prospect to me. Having played in Mike Leach’s air raid system for most of his college career, Lucas wasn’t called to run block as often as other prospects; however, run blocking is far easier to develop than pass sets at the professional level. While he has shown some nastiness in the run game, Lucas’ bread and butter is pass protection. Whether Teven Jenkins stays at LT or moves to RT, Justin Fields will be well protected with Lucas on the opposite end of the line.

Round 2, Pick 62

Notable Players on the Board:

• Justyn Ross, WR – Clemson
• Brian Asamoah, LB – Wisconsin
• Jalen Tolbert, WR – South Alabama
• Darian Kinnard, OT – Kentucky
• Alec Pierce, WR – Cincinnati

The Pick:

• Alec Pierce, WR – Cincinnati

Analysis:

• I thought long and hard about taking Justyn Ross with this pick. Admittedly, I think Ross might be a bit “safer” but there’s just something about Pierce that I just can’t help but like. The kid is a bit of an anomaly – similar to DK Metcalf, Pierce can BURN with sheer straight-line speed but struggles a bit laterally. Pierce projects well as a big slot WR and a great complementary piece to a new-look WR room that is now made up of Darnell Mooney, Christian Watson, and Byron Pringle. Bonus points since he’s a kid from the Chicagoland area that went to a gritty, midwestern program like Cincinnati.

Round 3, Pick 83

Notable Players on the Board:

• Kerby Joseph, S – Illinois
• Darrian Beavers, LB – Cincinnati
• Kellen Diesch, OT – Arizona State
• Khalil Shakir, WR – Boise State
• Dohnovan West, C – Arizona State

The Pick:

• Darrian Beavers, LB – Cincinnati

Analysis:

• Strong in run defense and sound in the passing game, Beavers brings upside to the table on defense. Beavers is versatile and can play any one of the linebacker slots in Matt Eberflus’ defense. Beavers will be a developmental guy who provides quality depth at first with the potential to blossom under Matt Eberflus’ tutelage and the HITS philosophy.

Round 4, Pick 120

Notable Players on the Board

• Zach Tom, OT – Wake Forest
• Cordale Flott, CB – LSU
• Cam Taylor-Britt, CB – Nebraska
• Grant Calcaterra, TE – SMU
• Neil Farrell Jr., DT – LSU

The Pick:

• Cam Taylor-Britt, CB – Nebraska

Analysis:

• The Bears need a corner, and Cam Taylor-Britt brings a lot of upside to the position group. Taylor-Britt excels in zone coverage and has the size, skill, and athleticism to play on the perimeter. This is a great value pick at a position of need in the fourth round.

Round 4, Pick 121

Notable Players on the Board

• Zach Tom, OT – Wake Forest
• Cordale Flott, CB – LSU
• Grant Calcaterra, TE – SMU
• Neil Farrell Jr., DT – LSU
• Matt Waetzko, OT – North Dakota

The Pick:

• Cordale Flott, CB – LSU

Analysis:

• We’re throwing darts at the board in the defensive backfield at this point and hoping we hit. At 6’2” 170 lbs., Flott has the length but will need to put on some weight to be successful at the next level. Flott is a fighter and fits the “grinder” mold Eberflus and Poles have been looking for.

Round 4, Pick 124

Notable Players on the Board

• Zach Tom, OT – Wake Forest
• Grant Calcaterra, TE – SMU
• Neil Farrell Jr., DT – LSU
• Matt Waetzko, OT – North Dakota

The Pick:

• Zach Tom, OT – Wake Forest
  • Tom isn’t going to “wow” you, but he was a model of consistency at Wake Forest. Quite frankly, the Bears need depth on the offensive line and Tom is exactly that. Tom played both inside and out in college and would be an upgrade over current depth pieces Arlington Hambright and Lechavious Simmons on the Bears roster.

Round 5, Pick 148

Notable Players on the Board

• Chris Paul, OT – Tulsa
• Lecitus Smith, OG – Virginia Tech
• Malcom Rodriguez, LB – Oklahoma State
• Sterling Weatherford, S – Miami (OH)
• Charlie Kolar, TE – Iowa State

The Pick:

• Lecitus Smith, OG – Virginia Tech

Analysis:

• No lie, I loved the way the board fell here. Charlie Kolar and Malcom Rodriguez are guys I like and were very tempting to take here, but I couldn’t pass up on the value with Lecitus Smith. A converted tight end, Smith slots to be a developmental guy in the NFL with a good deal of upside as an NFL guard. It may take a year or two for Smith to come into his own, but there is a lot to like in Smith’s game that made this pick feel like a great value in Round 5. Smith is strong and packs a punch at the point of attack and moves well in space. While this may take a year or two to pan out, Smith is a great fit for a team who’s competitive window is 1-2 years down the road.

Round 5, Pick 150

Notable Players on the Board

• Chris Paul, OT – Tulsa
• Noah Eliss, DT – Idaho
• Malcom Rodriguez, LB – Oklahoma State
• Sterling Weatherford, S – Miami (OH)
• Charlie Kolar, TE – Iowa State

The Pick:

• Eyioma Uwazurike, DT – Iowa State

Analysis:

• Hand up, I’m an Iowa State guy. That said, “Enyi” is a guy I would love to see the land with the Bears regardless of my fandom. Enyi played all spots on the line in Iowa State’s 3-3-5 and is versatile enough to play in any scheme. As the Bears move back to a 4-3 front, I see Enyi slotting into a 3-technique. He has a great first step and is quick off the ball. He’s going to be a run-stopper but flashed pass-rush potential in college. If Enyi can work on his power moves and adds a little strength, this could be a very, very good value at this point in the draft.

Round 7, Pick 233

Notable Players on the Board

• Ryan Stonehouse, P – Colorado State
• Brad Hawkins, S – Michigan
• Nate Landman, LB – Colorado
• CJ Wright, DT – Georgia Southern

The Pick:

• Ryan Stonehouse, P – Colorado State

Analysis:

• 7^th round picks are a crapshoot and the Bears need a punter, so I grabbed on here. #YOLO.

Summary

This is the anti-Ryan Pace draft. At every opportunity, I tapped into my “cloud of players” and took calculated risks to move back and acquire draft capital.

I was ecstatic to move back and still get Christian Watson. While there are certain players I like more in this draft than Abraham Lucas; I’m still happy with my ability to get a strong pass protector to keep Justin Fields upright for years to come.

While some of the players I landed on maybe a bit risky, the draft capital I acquired throughout sets the Bears up for success well down the road. For the love of God, here’s hoping Poles has some patience and lets the board fall to him!

Some say the Chicago Bears are in a rebuild and some say they are going to re-tool. General Manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus have many holes to fill get this team where it needs to go in the future no matter what anyone is saying. To me, getting help for Bears quarterback Justin Fields is priority number one.
General Manager Ryan Poles has made a few moves to start that process in helping his quarterback. Bears signed two low-risk and possibly high-reward wide receivers in former Chief Byron Pringle and Packer Equanimous St Brown. The more playmakers the better and these two have the chance to do that.

There are a few prospects I like in this draft that would help Justin Fields and the Bears fill the holes and get the organization on the right path moving forward.

First up is North Dakota State wide receiver Christian Watson. Watson is 6-4, something the Bears need. Tall and lengthy. Allen Robinson had size but struggled this past season when it came to production. Not only can Watson go up and when a battle with the football, but he also has big-time speed. Watson ran a 4.37 at the combine. Has the potential to be WR1.

If Christian Watson is not available when the Bears pick in the second round, another wide receiver I like is Alabamas John Metchie III. Metchie is coming off a torn ACL that he suffered last season. ACL injuries are nothing to mess around with but this guy reminds me of Davonte Adams. His route running is phenomenal in space. Plus, 96 receptions in one college football season is incredible.

The third and final guy I am a fan of in this draft is Purdue’s David Bell. Bell reminds me a lot of Darnell Mooney. A player that might get overlooked and could contribute right away when he steps onto the field. Mooney did really well in the slot and I can see David Bell having good production from that position.

All three receivers I talked about could contribute on day one when they get to Halas Hall. Ryan Poles said they need to build around Fields and I truly believe that. Coming out of the draft with two wide receivers that have first-round talent would be a big offseason win for this organization.

With the 2022 NFL Draft just weeks away, I think it’s a great time to dive into my top five potential prospects that the Chicago Bears could select on day two at either pick 39 or 48 (via LAC). While there is a potential to trade up into the first, I do feel like that is highly unlikely. A few guys that will not be included in this article are Chris Olave, Zion Johnson, and Trevor Penning due to being sure fire first-round picks. Also, keep in mind that I will be using statistics and grades from Pro Football Focus and NFL.com.

 1- Jalen Pitre (Baylor DB)

Pitre is graded as a late first or early second-round pick by Pro Football Focus (PFF). Jalen Pitre is a 6’0 22-year-old hybrid CB/S who primarily lined up in the slot while only being targeted 54 times all of last year and allowing 31 completions out of those targets. I have him as my top prospect because he would be the best player available as well as the secondary being a huge need due to having no one outside of Eddie Jackson and Jaylon Johnson.

2- Skyy Moore (Western Michigan WR)

Moore is the 33rd rated player on the PFF big board and is likely to go early in the second round. Although Skyy did improve his draft stock with a stellar performance at the combine in Indianapolis the other wide receivers did themselves. Moore stands at 5’10 195 pounds. He is coming off a season with nearly 1300 yards and 10 touchdowns as the number one wideout at WMU. Skyy would likely be the number two in Chicago behind Darnell Mooney but could make a huge impact as a slot WR and another deep threat for Justin Fields in year two for him.

3- Kenyon Green (Texas A&M G)

Kenyon Green is a 6’4 325 pound guard who plays with a nasty demeanor and a chip on his shoulder which fits the mold that new Bears general manager Ryan Poles wants alongside Teven Jenkins or Larry Borom. Green is also very versatile and has played everything on the offensive line except for center in his three years at TAMU. The only reason he is lower on my list is the uncertainty of where he is going to go in the draft due to him being graded by most draft boards as a late first but I have seen him fall to the second round in quite a few as well. Green does have some inconsistency problems and did allow a lot of QB pressures last season.

4-  David Ojabo (Michigan EDGE)

Ojabo was surely going to be a first-rounder up until his achilles injury at the Michigan pro day…now his draft stock is uncertain and his rookie season could be in jeopardy. Yes, Ryan Poles does take medical history as seen with the Larry Ogunjobi situation but it could be very enticing to take a player of Ojabo’s caliber at pick 49. If this was the 2000s or even the early 2010’s I would pass on this risk but nowadays the medical technology is so advanced that this seems like it won’t be that big of an issue. Ojabo is 6’5 250 pounds and can rush the QB like no other after accumulating 37 hurries in his final 10 games. In the 2021 season he had 5 forced fumbles, 11 sacks, and 7 QB hits…it would be a nice addition to this defense following the departure of Khalil Mack. In a normal situation he would be my number one prospect but with him having an injury that could be severe if not rehabbed correctly.

5- George Pickens (Georgia WR)

Pickens was expected to be a first-rounder but missed a lot of time this year after recovering from a torn ACL he suffered in 2020. He does have a good build to last a long time in the NFL with him standing at 6’5 200 pounds. In 2020 he had 513 yards and 6 touchdowns in the eight games that he played before his injury. I would not take him at 39 but could be a nice addition at 48 if the Bears decide to go with an offensive lineman or defensive back at 39. He wouldn’t be the number one target in 2021 but would be a true red-zone threat that Chicago doesn’t truly have at this moment. 

The Bears don’t have a lot of draft capital this year which makes these picks even more important. Don’t go into this draft expecting the team to make huge moves with this year being a season in which the Bears ride it out and have 2023 the true season that money is spent and big moves are made. 

The NFL Draft is quickly approaching and the Chicago Bears need a ton of help. The Bears are going to have to get younger in a lot of places while finding some day one contributors with limited picks in the early rounds. Thankfully for the Bears this draft is pretty deep in a ton of areas that the Bears needs some help. Look right at wide receivers and offensive line. While the Bears may not get some of the flashy names at those positions, they should be able to find some contributors and ultimately core guys. Let’s dive right into our first official mock draft.

2nd Round, Pick 48 – Skyy Moore, WR, Western Michigan

In 12 games last year for Western Michigan, Moore had 95 receptions, 1,292 yards, and 10 touchdowns. His height doesn’t essentially ”wow” you right away but he is an explosive wide receiver that would make an immediate impact on this Bears’ offense.

2nd Round, Pick 54 – Roger McCreary, CB, Auburn

McCreary is a name that has popped up on my radar here in recent days. I wasn’t so keen on the Bears taking a corner so early considering the needs on the offensive line and at wide receiver but McCreary may be too good to pass on. He is a bit undersized at 5ft 11in but he does have the ability to cover anyone on the field. Could be a nice addition to pair with Jaylon Johnson.

3rd Round, Pick 71 – Luke Goedeke, G, Central Michigan

I got the Bears attacking the directional Michigan’s with two of their first two picks of the draft. While this feels like a bit of a Ryan Pace pick here because of injury concerns that Goedeke has. His upside feels like a big plus that can’t be ignored. Goedeke played tackle at Central Michigan but projects out as a guard in the NFL.

Everyone is going to sound like a broken record player at this point. The Bears need talent and depth at the wide receiver position. You can expect them to take multiple receivers in this draft considering that it is a deep class. Doubs was one of the standouts from the Senior Bowl and may be an under-the-radar target for Justin Fields.

5th Round, Pick 150 – Enyi Uwazurike, DL, Iowa State

The Bears defense needs some studs in the middle of the defensive line. That hole is only more glaring after the failed physical of Larry Ogunjobi. Uwazurike has gotten better every year at Iowa State and not only overpower with a bull rush but can beat you on the outside. Would be an intriguing prospect to have grow in Matt Eberflus’ defense.

6th Round, Pick 186 – Matt Araiza, Punter, San Diego State

The punt god! Need I say more. The Bears need a punter and this guy can flip field position with the best of them. During his time at San Diego State, Araiza crushed a ton of punts which included punts off 77, 81, and 86 yards. Not only does he fill a bit of a need for the Bears but he may be an upgrade at the punter position.