Chicago Bears 7-round mock draft with a double trade back
By Joseph Herff
Chicago Bears Round 2 | Pick 54: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE
Finally, it was time to address defense. In my defense, with this mock, I would be investing in the defense heavily in free agency. But, the Bears still need to add foundational pieces outside of the free agents. Felix Anudike-Uzomah fits the Bears mentality and mold well and he can develop into a high-level edge rusher for their 4-3 scheme.
As a well-decorated edge rusher, Anudike-Uzomah enters the NFL Draft as a great all-around player and production to back up his value to the NFL. He earned himself 2021-2022 Big-12 First-Team All-American, 2022 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year, and 2022 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. He has all the traits physically, athletically, and mentally to become a great edge rusher with versatility to align anyway, like he did at TCU. He finished the 2022 season with 8.5 sacks.
Anudike-Uzomah has the measurables to fit well in the Chicago Bears 4-3 scheme on defense as a hand-in-the-dirt edge rusher, or up on his feet in 3rd-down passing situations. The Bears desperately need edge rusher help as their leader in sacks last season was safety Jaquan Brisker, who was also a rookie. Anudike-Uzomah can develop into a high-level edge rusher with some refinement and would be an instant-starter for the Bears.