Now that free agency is complete, who should the Chicago Bears be looking at in the 2020 NFL draft?
After getting a feel for the prospects at the NFL combine, Chicago Bears Mock Draft 1.0 was released. Of course, that was before the free agency moves came fast and furious and changed a lot of the dynamic of the team.
Entering the NFL draft, their needs have changed a bit since the start of the combine. Now that we know the prospects more, and understand their draft needs, what would a mock draft look like?
We all know the Chicago Bears need to replace Taylor Gabriel. When looking at Pittman, and his size, he may seem a bit more like Allen Robinson than he does Gabriel. Is this the type of receiver they should be drafting?
To start, they should be drafting the best player, and there is a real chance Pittman is that. Beyond that, when you look at his speed adjusted for his weight, he has above-average speed. He creates momentum with his movements and can blaze past cornerbacks. This was shown as Pittman recorded 18 passes 20 yards down the field, creating 493 yards and five touchdowns. He may not look like it on the hoof, but he has talents to stretch the field. Watch his game vs. Utah, if you need reassurance.
Adding a significant physical threat to the outside gives the Bears creativity in their usage. Pittman has football blood, being the son of a former NFL running back, and exploded up draft boards with a great senior bowl and combine.
The crowded wide receiver group this year will push a higher upside guy like Pittman down. Adding him at 43 could complete the offense.
Ryan Pace drafting a small school player? Are you going to be surprised when it happens? Jeremy Chinn checks every Ryan Pace box. Beyond being the small school phenom, he is highly athletic. This is a player who shot into this situation with a tremendous senior bowl and even better NFL combine.
By then, he was on everybody’s radar, and we know Pace watched this tape. The athleticism shows on tape, as Chinn flies all over the field. With small school players, you should be able to notice the NFL player stand out every snap, and Chinn does that.
Chinn played everywhere for Southern Illinois but spent most of his time in the box. His best asset in the NFL is his ability to match up with athletic tight ends while having strength against the run.
Chinn will have a chance to prove himself by competing with Deon Bush for starting snaps as a rookie in Week One. If Pace can replace Gabriel with Pittman, and Clinton-Dix with Chinn, he will have potentially found to legitimate starters for the future.