With two weeks until the 2022 NFL draft, it is a great time to unveil one of the final mock drafts of the season. This draft is not a fan wishlist, but rather an attempt to accurately mock what the Chicago Bears may be thinking.
The player pool available was done using the PFF simulator, so leave he will not be there talk, and focus more on how the player would fit, and whether he is in the Chicago Bears’ vision.
Chicago Bears Mock Draft 4.0
As we suggested in our Tyler Smith draft profile, this is a player who checks plenty of boxes for what the Chicago Bears want. Tyler Smith is just 21 years old but has 23 college football starts. His age and experience at left tackle combined to make him attractive.
However, while the Bears want a young player to grow, the big draw for Tyler Smith is his upside. He left the NFL combine with his stock well on the rise thanks to an impressive workout. The workout flashed his footwork that could be top-notch in the right system.
Smith plays a bit erratic with his hands and leans on the side of being too violent to the point of drawing penalties. Still, you hear Ryan Poles say he wants that style from his blocker. If he were a bit more refined at his age and athleticism he would be a first-round lock. Because of some of the questions the Chicago Bears could be buying a high upside left tackle.
The plan may be to move Teven Jenkins back to his more natural right tackle, then shuffle Larry Borom to right guard, where many saw him playing at this point last year. The fit only adds to the style of play that Ryan Poles loves. If he can get a high upside tackle to start his tenure fans will be happy.
This one comes as a bit of a hunch. The Chicago Bears are obviously very interested in finding a three-technique. They spent big money to make Larry Ogunjobi their guy, and when he failed his physical they were extremely quick to lock down a replacement in Justin Jones. Still, Jones is much more of a bet than Ogunjobi was and you can see the team still wanted to fill what Matt Eberflus views as a huge need for his defense.
Eberflus came up as a linebackers coach but worked closely with Rod Marinelli in Dallas. As a defensive coordinator, his unit came together when the Colts acquired DeForest Buckner. Considering he wanted to spend on Ogunjobi during an offseason when they hardly spent, he could be pivoting to Hall.
A film room on Hall here shows why he is the perfect scheme fit. The Chicago Bears already met with Hall at the Houston Pro Day, and Alan Williams being there himself has to be telling.
Logan Hall is the closest thing to a young, healthy Larry Ogunjobi so do not be surprised that the team that seems dead set on filling that role jumps on somebody like Logan Hall in round 2.
Fans will probably not be happy if the Chicago Bears leave Friday night without a wide receiver. All fears are put aside when the team is able to draft Alec Pierce in round three. As Alec Pierce has gained steam, some fans want the team to reach for him at pick 39.
However, mock draft services have him going in the 65-75 range, which is right in line with the Chicago Bears at pick 71. In fact, the Bears may be looking at the WR room and saying that there is a big group that will find their way to pick 71 and that they are better off waiting for this spot.
We already highlighted the game of Alec Pierce, and he is a perfect fit for Justin Fields. Many fans wanted D.J. Chark in free agency, and Pierce brings the same skill set while being younger and on a more cost-effective salary.
Pierce is big and tall and stretches the field in a way that suits the skill set of Justin Fields. If the team waits until 71 and finds the athletic upside of Alec Pierce, they would have to be satisfied.
Damarri Mathis is a name that is not getting much attention but could be a steal come draft day. Mathis missed the 2020 season due to an injury and his name was forgotten, but his 2021 play has him back on draft boards.
He played well, but his name really took off when he posted an impressive NFL combine performance and followed it up with a strong day. Mathis can be grabby, but he is physical and that is what the team wants. In a scheme that the Bears are hoping to deploy, he could be a good fit.
The Chicago Bears brought Tyquan Thornton into Halas Hall and have to be intrigued by his speed. Still, he is rail-thin with small hands and is really just a speed threat. In the fifth round, he could fill into the WR4 role on the roster and would be used for specific packages or plays that need a deep shot.
The Chicago Bears have to do something at linebacker. After filling needs elsewhere, they can bet on an athletic Big 10 linebacker who has all of the traits but needs to get the technique down. Good thing the head coach is a linebacker’s coach who has made the most out of plenty of late-round linebackers.