The Double-Dip for Bears in Mock
Sometimes the best laid plans of mice, men and mock drafters go astray.
The BearDigest Mock Draft 3.0, the second mock this calendar year, had a mission. The goal was to attempt the rare double-down. The Bears were to trade down twice in Round 1 and pull in a windfall of top picks while still getting top talent.
Although there were plenty of early and good draft picks in this mock, it didn't quite work out as desired because the Arizona Cardinals double-crossed everyone.
The Houston Texans were uncooperative, as well. They wouldn't take the trade down, figuring the Bears were taking a defensive lineman and there were enough quarterbacks for everyone, apparently.
So the idea of trading down twice seemed doomed from the start.
The Colts offered the best trade down at No. 4 when Houston refused. TheBears received the Colts' No. 4 (Round 1), No. 35 (Round 2), No. 79 (Round 3), a second-round pick in 2024 and a fourth-round pick in 2024.
But then the Cardinals fouled up everything by drafting defensive tackle Jalen Carter instead of edge rusher Will Anderson Jr. The Bears should have no problem settling for Anderson at No. 4 because they need edge rushers in addition to defensive tackles. However, there were teams still offering more picks so trading down from No. 4 and forgetting about Anderson was the course decided upon.
The trade down was accomplished again to No. 8 with the Atlanta Falcons and it meant extra picks for the Bears, No. 44 in Round 2 being the best one, and then a second-rounder next year as well as the 79th pick in Round 3 this year and a fourth-round pick next year.
In the end, six of the draft's first 79 picks went to the Bears, and they had three second-round picks. They picked up four defensive linemen to rebuild the line completely. They also landed three players later who have been tearing up Senior Bowl practices all week but were been graded lower.
That could all change now after their practice performances in Mobile, especially if they follow it up with a big game.
For what it was worth, this draft was given an "A" grade. It could have been so much better if the Cardinals hadn't interferred and if the Texans had been a little more cooperative.
Round 1, No. 8
DE Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
They got a top-10 player and the third-best edge rusher despite trading down twice in the round. The 6-foot-6, 275-pounder is actually a better fit size-wise for this defensive scheme as a bigger end than Anderson. He made 17 sacks and 32 tackles for loss in college.
Round 2, No. 35
DT Calijah Kancey, Pitt
The player who has rocketed up charts after Mel Kiper lauded his quickness. He is a true three technique and seems to get in the backfield before the snap. Although undersized at 280 pounds, he made 34 1/2 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. And he's the same weight as Aaron Donald so perhaps he's not too small.
Round 2, No. 44
C John Michael Schmitz, Minnesota
Sam Mustipher got better last year, and Lucas Patrick had a season marred by injuries. The Bears could use a really good center and Schmitz lit up the Senior Bowl after he'd already been regarded as a top center. At 6-4, 320, he showed great lateral movement and pulls to get out in screens and the wide zone scheme.
Round 2, No. 50
DE Keion White, Georgia Tech
A 6-4, 267-pound end who plays the run and rushes the passer. He started out at Old Dominion then really came on strong as a fifth-year senior at Georgia Tech with 14 tackles for loss and 7 1/2 sacks.
Round 3, No. 64
WR Rashee Rice, SMU
SMU's all-purpose type receiver at 6-1/2, 200 pounds, caught 25 TD passes in college and 233 passes for 3,111 yards. He was highly touted by Mel Kiper Jr. and at the Senior Bowl in practices emerged as a complete force, beating cornerbacks on short routes, deep routes and intermediate routes alike.
Round 3, No. 79
LB Noah Sewell, Oregon
They needed a linebacker before this pick and it didn't work out quite right. Sewell has more size than is ideal in this scheme at 6-2 1/2 and 250, and could be a strong side, but he does have a real knack for knocking down passes meant to go downfield so it's possible he could be in the middle. He knocked down nine passes and had 7 1/2 sacks to go with 20 1/2 tackles for loss.
Round 4, No. 103
LB Dorian Williams, Tulane
A much different type of linebacker, at 6-1, 220. He has tremendous speed but needs to be more physical. He had 9 1/2 sacks, two interceptions, 13 passes broken up and two forced fumbles. At worst, will be a big special teams help and could be in a pass situation role at linebacker, or even a weakside.
Round 5, No. 137
CB Julius Brents, Kansas State
After this week at the Senior Bowl, the Bears would be extremely lucky to nab Brents here. At 6-2 1/2, 206 pounds, he was all over wide receivers in one-on-one work at Mobile and was the talk of the defensive side of the ball. On the field, he had six interceptions and 10 pass breakups with 111 tackles. Brents started out at Iowa and transfered after two seasons.
Round 5, No. 150
DT Jalen Redmond, Oklahoma
He put on about 10 pounds and is now at a good size for a three technique at 293 pounds. Redmond is called by NFL Draft Bible a true three technique. He was played as a shade in a two-gap front much of the time and it didn't work but in the instances he got to play three technique in a four-man line he was very effective. Either way, he had 31 1/2 tackles for loss and had 14 sacks, a good number for a DT.
Round 7, No. 220
DE Habakkuk Baldonado, Pitt
There were many choices here at numerous positions but this is a player who stood out in an earlier mock and his video is tremendous. Baldonado finishes plays, whether it's a sack or a tackle for loss. He is driving through the whistle and hitting his target, then going through the target. It's a good trait for a seventh-round pick.
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