ESPN’s Jordan Reid recently created a new full seven-round mock draft. With the #9 pick, Reid lets the Bears attack the offensive line.
He lets the Bears pick Broderick Jones, an offensive tackle from Georgia.
“Don’t be surprised if Jones is the best offensive tackle on the board. I keep hearing his name in this area. General manager Ryan Poles covets length and physical attributes, and Jones may have the most tackles in this class.” The interesting dynamic here is that Braxton Jones, picked in the fifth round last year, showed promise as a starter at left tackle. Would Jones be here interfering with the right or left tackle spot? That’s a big problem for a Chicago team remodeling its offense around quarterback Justin Fields,” Reid wrote.
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Most speculate that the Bears will not only address the trenches in the first round, but will stay in 9th place. They’ve already come back from #1, and any further move down the draft order would decrease their chances of recruiting a turnkey player.
The Bears had a variety of problems in both trenches last season. Offensively, they finished 14th in the PFF overall standings. However, her run blocking success was just a crutch to her high positioning. Their passport protection, on the other hand, was atrocious. Justin Fields was the most-sacked quarterback in the NFL last season. The Bears need support at the tackle spots, which Reid alludes to.
In the second round, the Bears have two picks. They received a second-round pick from the Baltimore Ravens after selling Roquan Smith to them before the deadline. They also have a San Francisco 49ers second-round player that the Carolina Panthers are partially trading for the No. 1.
With the first of two second-rounders, Reid got the Bears to take on Isaiah Foskey, a Notre Dame asset.
“General manager Ryan Poles should be using assets on a defensive line that has struggled last season. To put in context how bad the Bears’ pass rush was a year ago, safety Jaquan Brisker led them in sacks — by four. Foskey put on 11 inches for straight seasons for the Fighting Irish,” Reid wrote.
Last season, the Bears conceded the second most rushing yards per game and produced the fewest sacks of any team in the NFL. Some suggest that Jalen Carter could create solid value if he fell to the bears at No. 9. Tyree Wilson and Myles Murphy may also be in attendance. But Reid is letting the Bears wait until the second round to address their lack of pressure from the defensive line.
Poles has also mentioned his affinity for Chicagoland area players. Foskey is originally from California. But he played soccer locally at Notre Dame. This offseason, the Bears signed Robert Tonyan and TJ Edwards, both from Chicago.
As for the rest of the draft, here’s how Reid chalked it up to the Bears’ selection.
Round 2, #61: Julius Brents, CB, State of Kansas
Round 3, #64: Zacch Pickens, IDL, South Carolina
Round 4, #103: Chicago Bears: Ricky Stromberg, IOL, Arkansas
Round 4 (by PHI), #133: Karl Brooks, IDL, Bowling Green
Round 5, #136: Xavier Hutchinson, WR, Iowa State
Lap 5 (from BAL/NE): Rashad Torrence, S, Florida
Round 7. No. 258: CJ Johnson, WR, East Carolina
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