Who are prospects that the Chicago Bears could be drafting?
It is time for the return of my annual mock draft series. If you have followed in the past, this series has identified future draft picks such as Bilal Nichols, Javon Wims, Roquan Smith, David Montgomery, Darnell Mooney, Cole Kmet, and Jaylon Johnson.
While the order or which edition they come in may not always hit, these posts are to bring discussions about how each player would fit on the Chicago Bears. Also, it is thinking as what Ryan Pace would do much more than what I would like to see. To get the pool of players we used PFF mock draft simulator.
With that in mind, who are the Chicago Bears going to be debating in the 2021 NFL draft?
With everything that I have written and heard from the Chicago Bears, they are going to draft a quarterback early in 2021. This is less about what Ryan Pace as much as what the owner wants, and he wants them to show direction with a winning quarterback.
Mac Jones is the opposite of Mith Trubisky. He does not have the legs to move out of the pocket but has the feet to operate better. Jones protects the ball and checks it down when needed, and that is all Matt Nagy needs sometimes.
Jones comes from the big program and won in big moments last season while Trubisky notably had one 8 win season at North Carolina.
Mac Jones is not DeShaun Watson, but in a quarterback falling this far the Bears add a proven winner and someone that Matt Nagy trusts to run his offense. Time will tell if it works out, but if you had to ask me what Ryan Pace is thinking, he is thinking that he can make up for his Trubisky mistake by taking the winner Mac Jones.
Many Chicago Bears fans will be disappointed that another first-round pick is gone without the offensive line being addressed. However, this may be a gift, but PFF not only gave us Eichenberg but the debate between him and Jaylen Mayfield.
If both have a chance to be there at 52, it makes taking a swing in round one worthwhile. Teams seem to be nervous about the upside that Eichenberg brings and whether he is maxed out athletically.
However, what I see is a polished left tackle. Ok, he may not win the All-Pro, but if that is a 10-year starter in the second round, you have to be excited about this. It probably does not hurt that he knows Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher as well.
The only real question is whether they should look to replace right tackle and Bobby Massie before left tackle. That would mean taking Mayfield from Michigan here. However, the best prospect with the safest floor.
The Chicago Bears have a need for speed. Sure, getting Tarik Cohen will help, but more speed will kill opponents. Atwell lived in the slot and was mostly used as a gadget type player. The idea was to get the ball in his hands and let him work. He did just that and put up over 6 yards after the catch per reception, according to PFF.
This is someone who sounds like a Matt Nagy fit through and through. Regardless of what happens with Allen Robinson, Anthony Miller has worked himself out of the offense, and Atwell can jump into the slot next season if needed.
With the speed of Mooney, drafting Atwell, and getting Tarik Cohen, the Chicago Bears can start to have some dynamic speed threats. With a quarterback like Mac Jones, he will appreciate these gadget and quick passing threats that let him distribute like a point guard.
Even if the Chicago Bears lose Allen Robinson, you would assume that they are able to sign someone to fill his void. Still, the receiver room needs upgraded. Miller and Robinson could be out, and Javon Wims is a WR4 at best who may be leaving soon as well. Beyond that, it is clear Riley Ridley is not the man.
Darnell Mooney and a free agent cannot be all that Mac Jones has. So, we add TuTu Atwell, for the speed, and Nico Collins for size.
Collins is a physically imposing wide receiver. He is similar to Alshon Jeffrey in that he does not create downfield with speed, but the size. He wins in the air in the same way.
With the speed of Mooney, the size and physicality of Collins across is a nice match. Adding in the speed and dynamic TuTu Atwell gives the Chicago Bears a young and new room overnight. Of course, a veteran will be in the mix next year as well.
Kendrick Green is falling this late because teams are not sure what to do with him. Green has played up and down the Illinois offensive line, and has some rare center snaps under his belt as well.
He has played tackle and guard, but many will likely see him as a guard in the NFL due to his length. Still, most see a tweener with some upside. This is where the Chicago Bears need to pounce.
They have been less committed to the offensive line in past years. Maybe this pick is the most dream-like and less realistic. However, Green has to be under their nose and locally, they can surely get to know him in a weird pandemic.
The Bears cannot pass up versatile depth on their offensive line here.
D.J. Daniel is falling this far because he was the odd man out in a talented Georgia secondary. Still, he has shown patience, length, and the ability to play the man in front of him. The Bears saw what happened when Jaylon Johnson went down. Daniel is not a starting slot, but his experience moving in and out, along with his experience as a depth corner, and special teams player will help the Bears immediately.
Fields is a transfer from Arizona who spent a year in the Big 12. He is a smaller linebacker who is good in the run and chase role but can get lost between the tackles. Still, the Bears biggest issue is that Danny Trevathan cannot stay with running backs. Adding Fields as some depth is a nice way to ease Trevathan off of the field.
Stevens is a box safety that some would call him a hybrid linebacker. The Bears could look to Fields and Stevens as replacements for Deon Bush to help with getting Trevathan out of coverage situations. At the very least, the Chicago Bears need depth. Beyond that, both Fields and Stevens have good chances of establishing careers
QB Mac Jones
LT Liam Eichenberg
WR TuTu Atwell
WR Nico Collins
OL Kendrick Green
CB DJ Daniel
LB Tony Fields
S Jacoby Stevens