3 takeaways for the Chicago Bears from Lance Zierlein's Mock Draft 1.0

Though the Chicago Bears probably won't look much into it, Lance Zierlein's Mock Draft 1.0 was released.

In the NFL Network's group of draft analysts, Lance Zierlein is a name that sits alongside Daniel Jeremiah in the realm of mock drafters who carry weight with their opinions. They're more connected than Robbie (fake name, there's no real Robbie) down the street, making mock drafts on his laptop and googling names along the way.

Lance Zierlein mocks surprising first round for Chicago Bears in Mock Draft 1.0

That being said, their predictions shouldn't be seen as gospel. Some teams leak information to these people, as they're the ones pumping information out to the public. Say a team gets word that there's mutual interest between them and a rival for a player they like. The team could leak info to a source, thus pushing false information out to the teams drafting, to get the player they actually want to draft. The likelihood of those instances is small, but it's possible nonetheless.

Now, this mock draft has only one trade, and it doesn't involve the Chicago Bears at all. It's a trade between the Chargers and Falcons, and nothing those two teams do in this mock draft impacts the Bears much.

The idea that the Chicago Bears could trade Justin Fields is still possible, but nothing is noted in the mock draft, as it was looking solely at the first round. The return for Justin Fields, if traded, would likely be a Day 2-type trade.

But, what did Lance Zierlein predict from the Bears? Were the predictions those that match what the Chicago Bears have done under Ryan Poles thus far? Do Chicago Bears fans enjoy the outcome of this first round? Strap in; let's look at the first takeaway from Lance Zierlein's Mock Draft 1.0.

Chicago Bears' takeaway No. 1: No smoke behind Commanders hiring Kliff Kinsgbury

With the Commanders hiring Kliff Kingsbury for their offensive coordinator position, there was a belief that the Chicago Bears could trade Caleb Williams to Washington. The connection between Caleb Williams and KIiff Kingsbury is clear, but if Zierlein's Mock 1.0 is correct, Caleb Williams starts his NFL journey in Chicago.

Kingsbury was a name in the Chicago Bears' interview cycle for offensive staff once the Bears cleaned house. However, he landed in Washington with the Commanders.

Though Shane Waldron didn't work with Caleb Williams in college, that doesn't change the fact that Waldron and the Chicago Bears' offensive staff will probably be just as happy to work with him as Kliff Kingsbury would. As a prospect, any coach who might have the chance to coach him to his potential should be excited. Caleb Williams' potential is sky-high, but the need for coaching is present.

This is the time for smoke screens and all of the resulting chaos, but not every hire in the NFL has cryptic meaning. The Commanders were not a good offensive football team last year, so they went and got a coach who coached a good offense last year. That offense just so happened to have the former Heisman trophy winner as their quarterback. Go figure.

Lance Zierlein, however, doesn't think the Chicago Bears should worry. With the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, the Chicago Bears select Caleb Williams, quarterback, USC.

Chicago Bears' takeaway No. 2: No need to trade up for Marvin Harrison Jr.

At the very top of this wide receiver class, Marvin Harrison Jr. is probably taking the cake. I say probably because, while he's an incredible wide receiver prospect, Malik Nabers doesn't trail by far. If there's a tier-list of wide receiver prospects in this draft, MHJ and Nabers share a tier. Rome Odunze is a hair lower, but he has the potential to be as good, if not better. Regardless of which of the three receivers are selected, the team is getting an elite rookie receiver if one of them makes it to No. 9.

In this case, the Chicago Bears draft Malik Nabers without needing to trade at all. Theoretically, the Bears could try to trade up for Marvin Harrison Jr.— if they think he's clearly the top receiver in the draft— or they could take the gamble on one of the top three receivers making it to pick No. 9. Lance Zierlein believes the Bears are ending up with Malik Nabers, and that should excite a lot of Bears fans.

Nabers is a bit smaller for a receiver, though; that's becoming the norm nowadays for receivers entering the draft. Marvin Harrison Jr. is 6-foot-4, but that sort of height is not really the necessity it was in years prior. Standing 6-foot-flat and weighing 201 pounds, Nabers isn't going to be the receiver whom Mosses corners regularly.

He does, however, have elite speed paired with crispy routes and great eyes with the ball in his hands. Though it doesn't happen 100% of the time, Malik Nabers has the speed and playmaking ability to take every target to the end zone. He simply makes a quarterback's job easier, and he makes the fan's job of watching that much more enjoyable.

To be able to draft him without trading up at all is a massive win for the Chicago Bears, if Lance Zierlein is correct in his prediction.

Chicago Bears' takeaway No. 3: EDGE must be addressed in free agency

The Chicago Bears selected Caleb Williams and Malik Nabers in the first round of Lance Zierlein's Mock Draft 1.0, which means they didn't spend any high draft picks on the defensive edge. Now, gaining Caleb Williams and Malik Nabers shouldn't be seen negatively because of that, but that is the reality of the situation.

If the Bears don't get high-drafted talent at edge, there's a big need to obtain talent in free agency. That's not to say lower picks can't blossom into impact starters, but it's good to have plenty of depth at positions of need. The 'iron sharpens iron' type of ideology.

If the Chicago Bears go along with Lance Zierlein's Mock Draft 1.0, there are edge rushers who the Bears should be all over this free agency.

It's doubtful, but Josh Allen or Brian Burns would be big hits. Whether Jacksonville lets Allen walk or Carolina lets Burns walk, that's not as likely.

A player who's likely to hit the free agency and also be realistically obtainable is Buffalo Bills' defensive end, A.J. Epenesa, from the University of Iowa. Epenesa fits the type of size Eberflus looks for in his defensive ends, and he wouldn't be too expensive either. Spotrac has his average annual salary at $5.6-million, so a deal around two years for $11-million seems likely.

Epenesa will likely see himself testing free agency due to being a cap casualty for a Buffalo Bills team with big names to pay. And while his first two seasons were a bit lackluster, A.J. Epenesa has had back-to-back 6.5-sack seasons.

If the Chicago Bears go with what Lance Zierlein predicts, acquiring A.J. Epenesa should become a priority this off-season.