We have done plenty of mock drafts, but we saved the best for last. This would be the mock draft that ends up getting an A+. It would hit all the needs, and it is realistic enough that it is what a lot of fans should root for. With that in mind, what is the best outcome?
1. Paris Johnson, OT, Ohio State, after a trade down
Fans will see Paris Johnson at pick nine, and think that they have seen this before, but how nice would it be if they could trade down, and still get Paris Johnson? In this scenario, it would be a typical top nine as usual, with one big caveat. That being that a quarterback is still on the board.
So, the Tennessee Titans see that they can pivot from Ryan Tannehill, and it just takes moving up two spots. The Chicago Bears can pick up a little bit, perhaps making this mock draft better, and they only have to move down two spots.
The Titans moving up for a quarterback may help, as does the idea that the Houston Texans may be sitting at 12 with eyes on a tackle.
Let's play it out that they trade down to 11. The Titans go with a quarterback at nine, and the Eagles take Peter Skoronski at 10. So, the Chicago Bears were not going to take a quarterback, and they may have Skoronski graded as a guard due to his length.
Two players they may not have taken anyways are off the board, and they still get the guy that they wanted. Even in a scenario that the Texans are the ones who move up, if the Titans take Lukas Van Ness or Jaxon Smith-Njgba, the Bears could still move down and grab Paris Johnson. That is the perfect outcome.
2. Joe Tippman, C, Wisconsin
Seeing Joe Tippman to the Chicago Bears in the second round is a dream scenario. It is obvious the team has a need at center, and Ryan Poles saying that he trusts Cody Whitehair at center is a signal that the team is going to draft a center.
Whitehair is now over the age of 30, and he was an ironman during his younger days. However, that meant many days of playing through minor injuries. Now, those days are catching up to him, and he has consistently been banged up over the past three seasons. He has missed time in two of the past three years, and when he does play, it looks like he is dealing with something.
Tippman can compete but does not have to start right away. Still, it gives the Bears an easy transition, if and when Whitehair gets banged up. Of all the centers, Tippmann is the best fit for the Chicago Bears. He is a good scheme fit and would be best in a zone-blocking scheme. Still, he is much better bigger, and a bit stronger than Luke Wypler, another option at center. This would be what the Chicago Bears need.
2. Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida
If the Chicago Bears cannot draft Jalen Carter in the first round, this is the next best option as a three-technique. The Bears brought Dexter into Halas Hall, and it is probably because they want to see how much they can get out of Dexter.
There are spurts and moments when it looks like Dexter is as good as it gets. He is powerful, explodes off of the line of scrimmage, and makes plays in the backfield. There are too many inconsistent snaps, though.
He plays high at times and does not finish. The question with Dexter is whether there is more to get out of him. Chris Jones fell to round two with similar questions, and Ryan Poles saw firsthand that betting the upside worked out. The name Chris Jones is mentioned because the same coaching staff that brought him up at Mississippi State also coached Dexter at Florida.
The two had similar careers in similar roles at college, and now it is up to Ryan Poles to see if he sees the same things in Gervon Dexter that the Chiefs saw in Chris Jones. If he can get that type of player in round two, Matt Eberflus will be a big fan.
3. Derick Hall, Edge, Auburn
We have been raving about Derick Hall for a while now. The idea of a HITS player is Derick Hall. He plays hard from whistle to whistle and makes his presence known. He is not the biggest and most powerful rusher, but when he punches you, he brings it and you feel it.
However, more than that, he is a speed rusher. Between Rasheem Green and DeMarcus Walker the Chicago Bears added some power in the run game. So, that being a weakness of Hall is not the worst idea.
The strength of Hall being his speed and relentless pursuit makes him perfect to rotate in and give the Bears some needed pass rush. The Chicago Bears have to address the trenches this year. They added some linebackers and made a splash at wide receiver. Going with a tackle, center, and two defensive linemen in the top four picks is the way to go.
4. Nick Saldiveri, OT, Old Dominion
Nick Saldiveri is a big-time sleeper in this draft. He was a three-year starter at Old Dominion, and the only reason it was not four is because ODU did not play in 2020. He has experience at right tackle, but he worked out at guard and center this offseason.
The Chicago Bears have to love the idea of him being one of five guys and letting the competition dictate his role. Still, it helps to have someone like Saldiveri just in case the move of Braxton Jones to the right side does not go as planned.
4. Cameron Mitchell, CB, Northwestern
Cameron Mitchell is flying under the radar because this is such a deep cornerback class, and he happens to be the third-best Northwestern player in the class. Beyond that, he has average speed and length. However, physical, tough, and smart are all words that describe his game. Some think he would be best in the slot in the NFL, and the versatility combined with those other traits make him enticing here.
5. Jaquelin Roy, DL, LSU
The Chicago Bears continue to beef up the trenches. Gervon Dexter has all of the upside in the world but is not consistent down-to-down. Beyond that, he is more of a three-technique pass rusher. Jaquelin Roy is the opposite.
He is a run stopper who really does not get much push into the backfield. Still, he plays well with his hands and knows leverage. He is going to be able to get on the field in a rotation, but will never be a guy who has more than five or six sacks. Roy in the 1-technique, and Dexter in the 3-technique fits.
5. Parker Washington, WR, Penn State
Parker Washington returns punts, which makes him enticing. He is a bit smaller and does not blaze, but he is a reliable chain mover who fights for every yard. Beyond that, he is just 20 years old right now, which makes him a bet on the future. Still, in the short term, he can boot Dante Pettis off the roster which is nice in round five.
7. Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma
Brayden Willis would be the perfect replacement for Trevon Wesco as a third tight end, who can block, but also move into the backfield if needed as an H-back.
7. Kaevon Merriweather, S, Iowa
Merriweather is a hard-hitting safety who could get special teams looks, and replace DeAndre Houston-Carson, who is not signed as of now.