Chicago Bears: What Daniel Jeremiah’s recent 2020 NFL mock draft means for Ryan Pace
Top 5 Off the Board
In Daniel Jeremiah’s mock draft, five offensive linemen go in the first round. Arguably the best five linemen in the 2020 NFL Draft. First off the board is Mekhi Becton. I do not have him as the best offensive lineman, but Jeremiah has him going fourth overall to the New York Giants.
Two picks later, Jedrick Wills comes off the board as he will be heading west to play for the Los Angeles Chargers. Wills is my favorite of the offensive tackles but knew the Chicago Bears would have no chance of landing him.
Tristan Wirfs lands with the Arizona Cardinals at pick number eight. Wirfs is probably my favorite lineman in the draft. He is a junior out of Iowa who many believe will have to play inside. Wirfs has the versatility to play both inside and outside in my opinion, and I would have loved to see him take over the right guard spot in 2020 or depending on how things shook up, move him to tackle and bench Bobby Massie or Charles Leno. Again, he was never an option for the Bears.
To round out the top 10 in Jeremiah’s mock draft, the Cleveland Browns select Andrew Thomas out of Georgia. Thomas is another great prospect, but again was never going to slide to the second. Many picks go by until Austin Jackson is taken by the Dolphins at pick number 26. With three first-round picks, the Dolphins are overhauling their offense as they rebuild for the future.
Where does this leave the Chicago Bears? Well, if Ryan Pace wanted to take the best offensive lineman available in the second round, the best tackles left are Prince Tega Wanogho and Lucas Niang, On the inside, Lloyd Chushenberry might be available, but his natural position is center. Are we going to believe the Bears will go down the road of moving their interior lineman again? Maybe it could be the right move though given different personnel. Cesar Ruiz is a name to watch for too.
Again, with the talent at these positions going early, this is why I’d address the line in free agency and look to draft a guy later. This is also why I am taking the best player available at other positions unless one of these top guys fall. Calvin Throckmorton could be worth a look on Day 3.