Chicago Bears 2021 NFL mock draft featuring new compensatory picks

Chicago Bears: Round 3, Pick No. 99 via NO

Following my first small-school selection at offensive tackle, I followed it up with an even smaller school interior offensive lineman in Quinn Meinerz. The Division 3 football star showed out as a personality and player at the Senior Bowl. He stepped up to the level of competition at the Senior Bowl with no issue.

After hardly getting invited to the Senior Bowl, Meinerz made the most of it. The primary left guard trained himself to snap and play center to show more versatility. He even wasn’t afraid to play it in Mobile as well and played great at it. He truly looked like he belonged despite his Division 3 start.

Meinerz, despite little preparation, showed in Mobile what he could do. He was pancaking players from center, which he had just learned how to play. He was an absolute force in the run game with his true power. Meinerz is going to translate well to the NFL with his pure strength, athletic ability, and heart. Speaking of athletic ability, according to Relative Athletic Score (RAS), Meinerz scored a 9.91 out of 10 which is the 11th best out of 1,107 offensive guards since 1987. You read that right: 11th best.

Meinerz could immediately compete for a starting job on the Chicago Bears’ interior offensive line. With Cody Whitehair, James Daniels, and Sam Mustipher, Meinerz could play both guard or center and start above Mustipher. Or, he could be a great depth piece to have some versatility as a backup.