Simply put, there are better players available in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The Bears have the #3 pick, and that’s not a position in which a team should get cute. There are several holes and an immediate starter and impact player needs to be drafted there. Unfortunately for Lattimore, there are players at positions of need who rank higher.
Myles Garrett
First and foremost, there isn’t a single person in the country other than Lattimore’s extended family who think he’s a better prospect than Myles Garrett. He appears to be the second coming of Julius Peppers, and is the consensus #1 player in the draft. Cleveland should probably pick him, but it is Cleveland after all. If Garrett were to fall, that’s a pick the Bears need to make the pick within the first ten seconds.
Second tier 3-4 DEs
More from Bear Goggles On
- Franchise tag and transition tag windows open for Chicago Bears and NFL
- How the Chicago Bears can control the running back market in 2023
- The Chicago Bears can own the city of Chicago moving forward
- Chicago Bears NFL Combine Preview: Quarterback
- 7 best free agent tackle options for Chicago Bears
After Garrett, there are two studs who jump out at the 3-4 DE position: Jonathan Allen and Solomon Thomas. Whether one is ranked above the other or not, the majority of people and big boards have at least one of those two above Lattimore. Many boards, like the one at NFL.com, have both of these players above Lattimore. Considering the logjam at CB, either Allen or Thomas would be a much better upgrade over Mitch Unrein.
Stellar safeties
The third pick means the Bears have the ability to pick the top player at a position. One of the Bears’ weakest position groups is safety. Many are comparing Malik Hooker to Ed Reed, and Jamal Adams to Troy Polamalu. Either would be a huge upgrade to players currently on the roster.
The Bears arguably need DE and S more than CB. Between the five aforementioned players, there are at least three, regardless of the board, who are ranked above Lattimore.