Bears Final Mock Draft

7th round (#221) – RB Eli McGuire, Louisiana Tech (5’11 | 214 |4.52)

The Bears may seem set at running back with the emergence of Jordan Howard last season, but HC John Fox has always used a two-RB system and the Bears don’t have a reliable complement to Howard. Jeremy Langford has flashed ability, but his yards per carry dropped to an unacceptable 3.2 yards last season and he’s been inconsistent as a receiver out of the backfield.

McGuire is one of the best receiving backs in the draft this year with 124 career catches and an average of over 10 yards per reception. He isn’t just catching screen passes either, McGuire can run the whole NFL route tree and shows a natural ability to attack the ball on downfield passes. He’s already made a handful of highlight-reel catches in his career.

McGuire isn’t just a receiving back either; he’s strong between the tackles with a low pad level and forward lean that makes him a very effective short-yardage runner. McGuire has 41 rushing TDs in three plus seasons and is a legit red-zone weapon as both a runner and receiver.

He’s one of the most complete backs in this year’s draft. I’ve already mentioned his receiving and short-yardage skills, but McGuire can also take the ball to the house when he gets outside. He’s been clocked as low as 4.43 and his power and quick feet make him difficult for defensive backs to bring down in the open field.

There isn’t much not to like about McGuire. His yards per carry has gone down from 8.4 as a freshman to 4.8 this season, but he was the heart of the Rajun Cajuns offense and the focus of defense’s game plans. At the next level, McGuire could play all three downs or fill any specialty role. With the Bears, McGuire could fill in for Howard at times but his main value will be as a receiving back on third downs.