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Next-to-Last Bears Mock Fills Gap

The Bears find a way to close the gap between No. 9 and No. 53 in the draft and are able to bulk up both their offensive and defensive lines in Mock 6.0.
Gene Chamberlain|
Next-to-Last Bears Mock Fills Gap
Next-to-Last Bears Mock Fills Gap

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Chicago Bears

The goal of the penultimate mock draft for BearDigest Bears, version 6.0, is to eradicate a huge gap existing from No. 9 to No. 53, if possible.

Into this chasm a good deal of tackle or defensive end or defensive tackle talent will fall. The Bears have four picks in the first 64 players but if the big drop off in talent level for defensive ends or tackles occurs somewhere between No. 40 and No. 50—and it sure looks like it might from assessing mock drafts—then what's the point of having the one extra pick?

They might as well trade it away and move up in Round 2. Or if the 11th or 16th pick might acquire them an offensive lineman or edge rusher equal in talent than what they could get at No. 9, then trading down and taking an extra pick can help close the gap.

It's not easy to pull off the trade down if a quarterback doesn't fall far enough. Teams would not be willing to surrender second- or third-round picks to climb from the middle of Round 1 to No. 9 overall and make the deal.

This was the case in this mock draft. As much as mocks put out in recent days have foreseen Will Levitz dropping, the mock draft simulator does not. So the Bears had to forget about closing it up by trading down, after being rejected for trades with Tennessee and Washington.

The Bears in real life are set up for moving up to take players they have targeted as they have two picks in the second round, the fourth round, the fifth round and the seventh round.

Instead, the trade up in Round 2 is the way to close that gap. In fact, the Bears were able to move up into the very bottom of Round 1 by dealing with Ryan Poles' former team, Kansas City, for the last pick. From there, they are better positioned to find what they didn't take at No. 9.

The Bears sought to help Justin Fields with their first pick.

Round 1, No. 9

T Paris Johnson Jr. Ohio State

Johnson could be the left tackle, could be the right tackle, but he is a tackle and we can't say that for Peter Skoronski. This solves a big Bears weakness. Ryan Poles found a tackle in Round 5 last year, this time he doesn't have to look so hard. Athletic with an estimated 5.05-second 40 time, very long-armed at 36-1/8 inches and able to do 29 reps at 225 pounds in the bench, Johnson is a better choice for the Bears for this position than another excellent lineman, Peter Skoronski of Northwestern.

Round 1, No. 31

DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State

Ironic, but the Bears started out with the first pick in Round 1 and now they end up with the last pick in Round 1 after trading back in the DJ Moore deal, and now up in Round 2 to make sure they get a better edge rusher. Using this final first-round pick in Round 1 came down to two very productive edge rushers, Kansas State's Anudike-Uzomah and LSU's BJ Ojulari. I want sacks. Not maybe or potential, ceilings or floor--sacks from guys who get there. Both of these players did it. Anudike-Uzomah has 20 1/2 sacks, 19 1/2 sacks the last two years while Ojulari had 16 1/2, 12 1/2 the last two years. It's close to a flip of the coin taking into account Ojulari's SEC pedigree but the system fit edge goes to Anudike-Uzomah who is a bit bigger end by about 10 pounds at 252 and better able to handle running attacks besides rushing passers.

Round 2, No. 61

CB Julius Brents, Kansas State

His name has continued coming up here after his spectacular week at the Senior Bowl and a strong combine. He covers everyone. He'd take the left corner spot and the Bears have another quality corner that lets them put Kyler Gordon in the slot. Who knows what happens with Jaylon Johnson's contract extension, so they're covered here for the future, too. The idea was a three technique but none of high enough quality were available here, so the two top second-round picks were Kansas State teammates.

Round 4, No. 103

DL Karl Brooks, Bowling Green

With Pick No. 64 traded, the Bears have to look for their three technique of the future in a later round. Fortunately for them, there is one left who isn't from a power five conference but has undeniable skills. Brooks was a first-team Pro Football Focus All-American. Do you know how difficult this is for a MAC player to do? It's Khalil Mack-like. Brooks was described by PFF as unblockable last year. This is a player who projects from three technique to five technique in the NFL and at 6-4, 300, he'll be a three for the Bears. He led the nation with 47 hurries and was second in pressures with 63. They had to give up the flat-out athletic speed of a Calijah Kancey or Adatomiwa Adebawore by going for a tackle, defensive end and cornerback, but they have someone with actual playing quickness who can get into the gap and is a little bigger than both of those two.

Round 4, No. 133

C Juice Scruggs, Penn State

Scruggs had a top-30 Halas Hall visit and the Bears know he's all about intensity, attitude and leadership. It's a good mix for player who could become a starting center later in the year or next year. At 6-2 1/2, 301, he's very athletic. Not necessarily a fast center in the 40 but he's big enough and can play guard as well as center. Even at that weight, he's said to excel at handling bullrushes. So it's good to know someone on the Bears line can handle this.

Round 5, No. 136

S Ronnie Hickman, Ohio State

Too much talent to pass on here with a 6-foot, 203-pound safety. He had been graded more than a round higher, plus the Bears need another quality safety, especially with DeAndre Houston-Carson still unsigned. They couldn't have been too happy with the spotty coverage in limited action by seventh-rounder Elijah Hicks last year and Hickman can give them an alternative fourth safety if they do sign DHC. You have to like a safety who succeeded and also practiced regularly against all the great receivers from the Ohio State University.

Round 5, No. 148

DE Junior Fehoko, San Jose State

Known for being Vita Vea's second cousin and a player who has a very high athletic score. He had a whopping 23 career sacks and 47 tackles for loss. Of the sacks, 22 came in his final three seasons. In the last two seasons, he forced five fumbles and recovered two. He has 12 career tipped passes, so he has a real nose for the ball. He's got the size Matt Eberflus wants in ends at 6-4, 276.

Round 7, No. 218

DT Jacob Slade, Michigan State

A 6-4, 315-pound one technique/three tech combo to back up Andrew Billings and Justin Jones. He gives them some more beef right away in short-yardage or goal-line situations.

Round 7, No. 258

LB Troy Brown, Ole Miss

He fell all this way when many had him projected as a fifth-rounder, but needs to add some weight as a 220-pound, 6-1 linebacker. Not every Bears linebacker can be a 241-pound T.J. Edwards or 250-pound Tremaine Edmunds. A running back or punt returner would have been more ideal here but no one left could compare with Brown's overall athletic ability and he'll help first in special teams coverages.

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Gene Chamberlain
GENE CHAMBERLAIN

Gene Chamberlain has covered the Chicago Bears full time as a beat writer since 1994 and prior to this on a part-time basis for 10 years. He covered the Bears as a beat writer for Suburban Chicago Newspapers, the Daily Southtown, Copley News Service and has been a contributor for the Daily Herald, the Associated Press, Bear Report, CBS Sports.com and The Sporting News. He also has worked a prep sports writer for Tribune Newspapers and Sun-Times newspapers.

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