The Chicago Bears 2017 Seven Round Mock Draft
Experts all across the internet, on television and on the radio are calling for the Bears to take Marshon Lattimore. And why not? He has a lot of talent, plenty of skill and comes from a big-time college program. And the Bears have a need at cornerback so the match would be perfect.
Lattimore has a ton of upside including, according to Fox Sports:
"When you first turn on the tape you can see right away that Lattimore fits the mold of a NFL corner. Listed at 6’0” and 192 pounds, he will have no problem matching up with the larger receivers he’ll face as a pro. In terms of athletic ability he stands alone in comparison with his peers. His elite change of direction ability with his loose, and fluid hips is second to none. He mirrors any receiver with his lightning quick feet, and has the deep speed to stay with anyone he faces. When running down the sideline he remains glued to the hip pocket of the receiver, and is patient in waiting for the ball to arrive before he utilizes his ball skills to make a play on the ball. Marshon Lattimore possess elite recovery speed. At times it appears he is out of the play, but at the last second he finds another gear and disrupts the play. He plays the game with an aggressive swagger. He has an alpha dog mentality, and stays in attack mode until the whistle blows. One of his best attributes is his willingness to be aggressive in run support. He plays with no fear when attacking the ball carrier, and takes excellent angles to get there as efficiently as possible. Marshon Lattimore is an excellent tackler, often times displaying wrap-up technique as opposed to lowering the shoulder for the big hit."
There aren’t that many negatives in Lattimore’s play but he does struggle to find the ball in the air sometimes. He doesn’t have a lot of experience as a starter either. Lattimore is also not a strong “ball hawking” cornerback (get to the ball type of guy). But his flaws are fewer than his strengths and this should appeal to the Bears.
Chicago can’t go wrong with Lattimore. They need the help at cornerback and he is the best in the draft. If they can get him they can shore up a position that was a sore spot for them last season. If they get decent production from the free agents they signed at cornerback, it could be a position of strength in 2017.
Alternate Pick: Jamal Adams, safety, LSU. The best safety in the draft should be there at number three. It could be between Lattimore and Adams at this spot. What a tough decision.