With NFL free agency slowing down significantly, many teams are now focusing their attention on the NFL Draft next month. The Chicago Bears were aggressive in free agency by signing their No. 1 target, center Drew Dalman, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo, and veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett. They also added guards Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney, completing their interior offensive makeover.
The free agency has given the Bears more options to take the best player available. But what are the scenarios for the Bears to get the most out of their draft picks? Here are several real draft scenarios for the Bears.
Scenario 1: The Bears draft Will Campbell or Armand Membou with the 10th pick
For the Bears to have a chance to draft Armand Membou, the teams that are drafting ahead of them must bypass one of them. New England at No. 4 needs to draft a left tackle to protect Drake Maye. They might draft Will Campbell, who has been linked to the Bears in many mock drafts before the Bears after they upgraded their interior offensive line in free agency.
If Travis Hunter is still available at No.4, he could go to New England as they also need weapons for Maye and could play both ways if they allow him to do so. The New York Jets at No. 7 could also draft either Campbell or Membou after they lost tackle Morgan Moses to New England and Tyron Smith still remain a free agent.
Mason Graham will be selected by either Jacksonville at 5 or Carolina at 8. Campbell can slide down if the New York Jets draft Membou. New Orleans at 9 will be a wild card because they can in any direction. If either Campbell or Membou is still available by the time the Bears pick, it will be interesting to see who the Bears select. Whoever they pick, the offensive line will get even stronger.
Scenario 2: Ashton Jeanty is taken by Las Vegas with the 6th pick
The only team that might be in the way of drafting Jeanty before the Bears is Las Vegas. Pete Carroll is back in the NFL and just acquired quarterback Geno Smith from his former team. The dearth of quarterbacks in this year's draft forced them to trade for Smith since Carroll might not have the patience to develop one given his age. He might see him as a Marshawn Lynch-type player, which gives them immediate impact and credibility.
Jeanty is a dream pick by many Bears fans in this year's draft. As cool as it sounds for the Bears to have their own version of Jahmyr Gibbs, he is a luxury pick and the Bears still should focus on bolstering their trenches in this draft.
Scenario 3: The Bears draft a running back with one of the second round picks
The Bears are lucky that this year's running back class is extremely deep. They are also lucky that the Bears have two second-round picks, one of which is from Carolina in the 2023 trade and it is the last draft pick they will receive from them. They must make it count.
Hopefully, Ryan Poles can convince Ben Johnson to focus on drafting either an offensive or defensive line in the first round. The Bears can still draft TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Kaleb Johnson, or Omarion Hampton, who would fit Ben Johnson's offense in the second round.
Scenario 4: The Bears trade down into the teens and get more picks
If Jeanty, Membou, Campbell, and Mason Graham are all gone by the time Bears draft, the Bears should shop around their 10th pick if someone wants to draft Tyler Warren(Miami or Indianapolis?) or Will Campbell if he starts sliding. The Bears can move down and collect an extra second or third round pick in the process, which would help them draft another talent or move back into the first round.
If they still want to focus on offensive lineman after trading down, Josh Simmons might still be available although he suffered a serious injury late last season and must prove he is healthy and ready to go. Other candidates include Grey Zabel, Josh Conerly, and Aireontae Ersery.
If the Bears decide defensive line is a pressing need, Derrick Harmon, Kenneth Grant, Walter Nolen, Nic Scourton, and Mykel Williams are some of the players to keep an eye out on.