A Chicago Bears mock draft that follows recent 2022 NFL Draft rumors

After a run at wide receiver, the Chicago Bears draft one of their own

Filling in for Ryan Poles and based on the players he has had his staff meet with throughout the offseason, I took a gamble by selecting Brian Asamoah at 71. In reality, I thought about grabbing Alec Pierce at that pick instead. It was a gamble that paid off, but let me preface it by saying there were some consolation prizes that I thought could have been available should Pierce be selected.

John Metchie, Jalen Tolbert, Khalil Shakir Justyn Ross, and Calvin Austin were also still available while on the clock at pick No. 71. Had Alec Pierce been drafted, I would have felt comfortable with taking Metchie, Tolbert or Shakir at pick No. 89. Had they all been selected, there are still a few other wide receivers that I would have been fine with taking a little later in the draft too.

The luck paid off though and the Chicago Bears now have a true X-type receiver. Pierce is a local kid out of Glen Ellyn and went to Glenbard West. He was a multi-sport athlete who participated in football, volleyball, track and basketball. He has 4.41 speed that he showcased at the NFL Combine earlier this year. He has solid hands and can separate using his body for contested catches. He also isn’t afraid to block — something the last X receiver wouldn’t do here in Chicago.

Pierce has a limited route tree, but he showed at the Senior Bowl that he has the ability to run routes more fluidly than most originally thought. Christian Watson was the golden apple at the receiver position at the Senior Bowl, but Alec Pierce was not far behind him. His hands are exceptional and it shows constantly with his circus-like catches. Desmond Ridder is getting attention as a quarterback prospect, but I believe Pierce has helped elevate Ridder’s draft value, not the other way around.