2 Weeks Out Mock Draft

[WindyCity]

1[8] CB Denzel Ward [Ohio St] 5'11" 183lbs, 4.32 [40], 16 reps, 39" vert, 11'4" broad

There have been increasing rumors that the Bears really like Ward and that Ward is one of the hottest players in the draft. This makes sense, he plays a premium position, has draw dropping athletic ability, and he is sticky in coverage and has good ball skills. Ward is one of the highest ceiling players in the draft, a true elite prospect, and someone who has the athletic upside we know that Pace covets. This is not a huge need for the Bears, but it is a BPA at a super valuable position. Ward can come in and start out as the nickle before taking over for Prince and moving him to the 60% role. I know this seems like too much of an investment at CB, but it is one of 3-4 positions where you cannot really over invest. The 3 headed CB monster would be one of the better units in the league and we have seen from the Seahawks and Broncos that you can build a defense back to front.

*Trade: The Chicago Bears trade 2[39] to the Carolina Panthers for 2[55], 3[88] and 5[161]. The Bears have multiple needs and depth positions that need to be addressed and Pace has shown that he uses the 2nd round to recoup picks.

2[55] OG Austin Corbett [Nevada] 6'4" 305lbs, 5.15 [40], 19 reps, 28" vert, 8'10" broad

The Bears need someone who can come in and start at LG and provide them with a viable option at that position. It is not only LG, but RG Kyle Long has had 3 surgeries and the Bears lack a back up C. Both Nagy and Pace come from systems where they like to convert college OTs into OGs and Corbett played LT at Nevada. Corbett is a lot like Cody Whitehair in that he can probably play every position on the line in a pinch. Corbett had an excellent week at the Senior Bowl after moving inside and would give the Bears are serious contender to start at the position. The Bears really cannot afford to be thin on the line in a year they need their young QB to play well.

3[88] WR Tre'quan Smith [UCF] 6'2" 203lbs,4.49 [40], 12 reps, 37.5" vert, 10'10" broad

Based on historical averages in this style of offense the #3 WR is going to get about 55 targets. Traditionally the #3 target has been an outside WR with either HIll [Zebra] or Wilson being the #2 target who moves around and spends more time in the slot than the #3. The Bears need a player that can play on the outside, handle 55 targets, and who has the explosive athletic numbers that seem to be favored in this offense. Smith can do those things, he has the plus athletic ability, plays on the outside, and is a deep threat averaging one 17 YPC. He can come and compete with Kevin White, until White is injured, and also provide a backup to Robinson with some upside and speed.

4[105] OLB Dorance Armstrong [Kansas] 6'4" 257lbs, 34.5" arms, 4.87 [40], 20 reps, 30" vert, 9'10" broad, 7.12 3 cone

Fangio might not be getting a top pick at OLB, but he can get a couple of intriguing athletes to mold and at least more depth than he has had in the past. Armstrong's stock has fallen as he came off a very average season and had an average combine. He has the size and length that the Bears like on the edge. While he only had 2 sacks last season, the season before he had 10. Armstrong just needs to be a rotational player in 2018 and rush the passer from time to time.

4[115] OLB Ade Aruna [Tulane] 6'6" 262lbs, 34" arms, 4.6 [40], 18 reps, 38.5" vert, 10'8" broad, 7.53 cone

The Bears  give Vic Fangio a 6'6" super athlete that he can hopefully mold into a contributing pass rusher and a rotational player at some point in 2018. Aruna is a freak. Running a 4.6 and jumping 39" at 260lbs is incredible and while there are a ton of rough edges he checks every single physical box that the Bears are looking for at the position. Fangio needs to coach him up, but this at least gives the Bears another option with upside that they can turn to if injuries strike. Aruna also gives them a monster of a human being by special teams standards. The Bears have not had someone one special teams with his size and athletic ability since Israel Idonije was escorting Devin Hester to the endzone multiple times. Another player that had 10 sacks in 2016, but had a much less productive 2017.

5[145] NT Justin Jones [NC State] 6'2" 312lbs, 5.09 [40], 24 reps, 29"vert

The Bears need a big physical interior player that can play in the rotation and give Goldman a breather so he can rush the passer more. Hicks and Goldman played too many snaps last season and lack of an actual backup NT on the roster was a contributing factor. Jones played on a very good DL at NC state and he has the powerful hand punch and squat build to be a contributor in the run game. Jones showed a little more pass rush than was expected at the Senior Bowl so there may be a little more to his game than we have seen. Jones gives the Bears someone they can use to eat double teams on early downs in short yardage.

5[166] ILB Andre Smith [UNC] 6' 237lbs, 4.63 [40], 19 reps

Andre Smith may not be an every down LB in the NFL, but he can be an effective run defender and he will lay the wood on special teams. The Bears need a backup LB and a special teams player they can develop and Smith has the physical tools to be worth developing. At the moment he is not that strong in coverage, but with the amount the Bears play nickle Smith could contribute on 1st and 2nd down and short yardage early in his career. Injuries cost him most of 2017, but in 2016 he had over 100 tackles.

 

6[181] WR Jordan Trinnamen [BYU] 6' 190lbs, 4.3 [40], 40" vert, 12' broad

The Bears need some offensive depth with scheme specific skill sets. Trinnamen has the speed and explosive athletic ability to play the zebra position and can backup Gabriel without the Bears losing the speed dynamic to the offense. The Bears need to continue to sprinkle speed into the WR core as it was a staple in KC and the Bears only really have 1 player that can threaten defenses deep. The Bears were represented at Trinnamen's proday and hosted him for a private visit.

7[224] RB Jarvion Franklin [Western Michigan] 6' 225lbs, 4.63 [40], 18 reps, 30" vert, 9'1" broad

The Bears need a RB with the size and power to fill in for Jordan Howard. Right now they do not really have anyone on the roster that is equipped to take the pounding that he takes and to run in short yardage and goal line situations. Franklin, who has visited the Bears has the size and power to fill that role. While Franklin does not boast elite athletic ability the Bears are not looking for an every down back.

Depth Chart

QB: Trubisky, Daniel, Bray
RB: Howard, Cohen, Cunningham, Franklin
WR: Robinson, Gabriel, Smith, White, Trinnamen, Bellamy
TE: Burton, Shaheen, Sims
LT: Leno
LG: Corbett, Morgan
C: Whitehair, Kush
RG: Long
RT: Massie, Watford

RE: Bullard, RRH
NT: Goldman, Jones
LE: Hicks, Coward
OLB: Floyd, Acho, Aruna
ILB: Trevathan, Timu
ILB: Kwitowski, Smith
OLB: Lynch, Armstrong
CB: Fuller, Ward, Prince, Cooper, Callahan, McManis
FS: Jackson, Hall
SS: Amos, Bush

[beardown3231]

Smith is too high, and I doubt Armstrong drops to 105. Love Aruna, love Corbett.

Overall, I'd be psyched about this.

[WindyCity]

I think we need to add a legit OG. It is the only position where we do not at least have 2 starters at the position.

I think WR is an obvious need as well as OLB, but I have more faith in Lynch producing than I do with Morgan/Kush.

[beardown3231]

3 minutes ago, WindyCity said:

I think we need to add a legit OG. It is the only position where we do not at least have 2 starters at the position.

I think WR is an obvious need as well as OLB, but I have more faith in Lynch producing than I do with Morgan/Kush.

I'm definitely down with Corbett (or Price, Wynn, or Hernandez, although I doubt the latter 2 fall to 39)

[51to54]

Use the 8 to get a sure thing with a high ceiling at a critical position. NFL showing more and more school yard formations with everybody, but the water boy running patterns. Need more DB's to cover more receivers. Nickel is the new standard formation. Need to get value with our 8th overall pick. Hope to not be picking this high for a decade or more, absent a trade.

Like the trade down to stock up. Love taking a OG with a low second. Can expect good starter level offensive linemen from second round. Need lots of good Olinemen and not one great one.

Like taking multiple shots at LB and WR. Just not too high on any Kansas players, especially one without great physical traits and falling off his last season.

I could easily live with this draft and think it would provide a strong improvement in the roster if just the first two picks play up to reasonable expectations and one of the lower picks is a hit, but I don't know how likely this favorable trade down is. Not talking about trade slot values, but just how likely it might occur.

[Bowler1215]

Solid mock

 

[Sugashane]

I like a number of the picks but Armstrong isn't making it to the 4th. He didn't have a bad combine at all. He was 4th among EDGE in the 3 cone drill, 3rd in the 20 yard shuffle and 60 yard shuffle. 20 reps is fine and 9'10" in the broad is pretty good too. He won't get past the 3rd, might be a 2nd still with EDGE being in such demand.

 

Love the return and a fan of most of the players though. Good work.

[beardown3231]

16 minutes ago, Sugashane said:

I like a number of the picks but Armstrong isn't making it to the 4th. He didn't have a bad combine at all. He was 4th among EDGE in the 3 cone drill, 3rd in the 20 yard shuffle and 60 yard shuffle. 20 reps is fine and 9'10" in the broad is pretty good too. He won't get past the 3rd, might be a 2nd still with EDGE being in such demand.

 

Love the return and a fan of most of the players though. Good work.

Yeah, going from 10 to 2 sacks wasn’t his fault. He was literally the only actual football player at Kansas, and you can imagine in that conference, the Kingsbury’s, Reilly’s, etc figured “block him and instead of winning by 28, we’ll win by 42.”

[AZBearsFan]

8 hours ago, WindyCity said:

I think we need to add a legit OG. It is the only position where we do not at least have 2 starters at the position.

I think WR is an obvious need as well as OLB, but I have more faith in Lynch producing than I do with Morgan/Kush.

I don’t disagree with drafting an OG at all but I have zero faith in Lynch to be anything - he has been abysmal for 2 years. I like the guys you have us taking though I’m not super high on Ward for us. Armstrong is a top 50 player on most boards and is getting a fair share of late 1 looks in mocks. Actually like him quite a bit at 39 if we don’t go edge in the 1st.

Trinnamen is definitely a Nagy fit skill set wise though I see him more as a priority UDFA type. I wish he had KR experience. 

[beardown3231]

30 minutes ago, AZBearsFan said:

I don’t disagree with drafting an OG at all but I have zero faith in Lynch to be anything - he has been abysmal for 2 years. I like the guys you have us taking though I’m not super high on Ward for us. Armstrong is a top 50 player on most boards and is getting a fair share of late 1 looks in mocks. Actually like him quite a bit at 39 if we don’t go edge in the 1st.

Trinnamen is definitely a Nagy fit skill set wise though I see him more as a priority UDFA type. I wish he had KR experience. 

Cohen is a fine returner, but if you really want a WR who can return, take Pettis in round 4 and don’t look back. He’s one of the best college returners ever

[Sugashane]

55 minutes ago, beardown3231 said:

Yeah, going from 10 to 2 sacks wasn’t his fault. He was literally the only actual football player at Kansas, and you can imagine in that conference, the Kingsbury’s, Reilly’s, etc figured “block him and instead of winning by 28, we’ll win by 42.”

No doubt. That defense was Mel-Tucker-in-Chicago-bad. They were 12th worst... out of 129 teams... There were better Div II defenses IMO, as ridiculous as that sounds.

[Sugashane]

Quote

Trinnamen is definitely a Nagy fit skill set wise though I see him more as a priority UDFA type. I wish he had KR experience. 

 

Doesn't mean he won't get a shot to do it. Deonte Thomspon never returned a kick at Forida IIRC, and he has turned that into probably his best asset. Be worth a look at least for depth.

[AZBearsFan]

25 minutes ago, Sugashane said:

 

Doesn't mean he won't get a shot to do it. Deonte Thomspon never returned a kick at Forida IIRC, and he has turned that into probably his best asset. Be worth a look at least for depth.

Trinnamen did some KR but no PR at BYU. My initial post was meant to say more KR experience. ?‍♂️

35 minutes ago, beardown3231 said:

Cohen is a fine returner, but if you really want a WR who can return, take Pettis in round 4 and don’t look back. He’s one of the best college returners ever

I like Cohen on punts but not so much on KO. It’s a totally different kind of returning. Pettis was a PR only at Washington. Didn’t return a single kickoff. 

[Sugashane]

3 minutes ago, AZBearsFan said:

Trinnamen did some KR but no PR at BYU. My initial post was meant to say more KR experience. ?‍♂️

I like Cohen on punts but not so much on KO. It’s a totally different kind of returning. Pettis was a PR only at Washington. Didn’t return a single kickoff. 

 

Ah. To be 100% honest, I have never heard of Trinnamen until his numbers came up. I just like him because his name rhymes with Cinnamon. He's fast too, so that's a plus. But the name is what matters.

[AZBearsFan]

13 minutes ago, Sugashane said:

 

Ah. To be 100% honest, I have never heard of Trinnamen until his numbers came up. I just like him because his name rhymes with Cinnamon. He's fast too, so that's a plus. But the name is what matters.

I just like a guy with 4.3 speed at the bottom of the draft. Give Nagy a guy with one elite skill or ability and dollars to donuts he can find a role for him.