2017 NFL Draft: Chicago Bears Post-Combine 7-Round Mock Draft
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The Chicago Bears and GM Ryan Pace need to assemble a strong class during the 2017 NFL Draft if they have any hope of getting out the NFC North basement this upcoming season.
This past year has been a trying one for the Chicago Bears. After putting together a phenomenal 2016 offseason, they watched injuries, inconsistency and some bad luck lead them to an eventual 3-13 finish. It was an ugly outcome for a team thought to be on the rise.
That's why, if this current leadership team wants to keep their jobs much longer, things must turn around in the Windy City. They've already gotten off to a good start during NFL free agency. However, how they spend their seven current picks during the 2017 NFL Draft could dictate how things play out in the next 10 months.
Luckily, the guys calling the shots in the Bears draft room seem to have things under control. They put together an outstanding 2016 draft class, and should have little trouble doing it again in 2017. Until draft day arrives, though, all we can do is speculate on how Chicago will go about upgrading its roster with those aforementioned picks.
That's why I've put together this seven-round mock draft for the Bears. It's a brief glimpse at what their haul could look like when the 2017 NFL Draft is in the books. Remember, though, that these aren't set-in-stone predictions—just guesses of what could happen based on current team needs and prospects' ever-changing stock.
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Solomon Thomas
Defensive End, Stanford
At this moment, defensive end isn't the biggest of needs for the Bears. However, based on the talent available in this class, I find it hard to imagine Chicago going with a different position at No. 3 overall—especially after the signing of Mike Glennon during free agency.
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As I mentioned in my latest prospect rankings, I believe Thomas is a better overall talent than Jonathan Allen. Seeing as Myles Garrett and a quarterback seem destined to come off the board with the top two picks, the Stanford product makes the most sense to be next to hear his name called.
Put simply, Thomas is a wrecking ball. Whether he's rushing the passer or stuffing the run, it's not often he's doing something other than disrupting the opposing offense. Better yet, he seemed to always come up with the clutch play when the Cardinal needed it most. Just watch the 2016 Sun Bowl if you don't believe me.
Akiem Hicks is a quality starter, but Chicago could use an upgrade on Mitch Unrein. If Thomas finds his way to the Windy City, it won't be long before he's terrorizing quarterbacks and ruining the Saturday-night sleep of opposing offensive coordinators.
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Patrick Mahomes
Quarterback, Texas Tech
Even with the addition of Glennon, the Bears are still very likely to draft a quarterback early during the 2017 NFL Draft. They likely won't select a signal caller at No. 3, but could easily find a promising youngster at the top of the second round.
In this case, I'm predicting Patrick Mahomes slides into Day 2. There's been significant speculation he could come off the board in the first round. However, especially with the uncertainty surrounding this class of quarterbacks, I wouldn't be surprised to see passer-needy teams wait until the later rounds to address the position.
Now I will admit, there's a good chance Mahomes is selected by the Cleveland Browns two picks earlier. Then again, with two first-round picks and plenty of other draft assets, I wouldn't be surprised to see them grab a young arm earlier or simply acquire someone such as Jimmy Garoppolo via trade.
If Mahomes is available, the Bears should jump at the opportunity to draft him. He's got a lot of ground to cover coming from Texas Tech's passer-friendly offense, but could develop behind Glennon for a couple of seasons. Then, Chicago can make the decision on who to move forward with as the starter.
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Antonio Garcia
Offensive Tackle, Troy
The Bears went into this offseason knowing they needed help at offensive tackle. However, up to this point, the only move they've made at the position is signing Tom Compton. I can assure you the addition of an underwhelming depth piece isn't going to get the job done.
Put simply, Chicago needs to at least find some competition for starting tackles Charles Leno and Bobby Massie. While both are serviceable starters, neither inspires much confidence—especially as pass protectors. If Glennon is going to succeed under center, more beef is needed along the front five.
That's where a player such as Antonio Garcia comes into the equation. The early-round talent is a bit of a sleeper, hailing from a school not known for producing pro players. Still, based on what we've seen from him recently, there's good reason to believe the former Trojan has the makings of a quality NFL blocker.
Garcia may be a bit undersized by today's standards, but possesses phenomenal athleticism for his size. If he can put on a few pounds and hone his technique, there's no denying he has the tools to be a starter. If he develops quickly, he could potentially steal a top spot on the depth chart as a rookie.
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Chad Hansen
Wide Receiver, Cal
Even before the loss of Alshon Jeffery, the Bears were in desperate need of extra help out wide. Then Jeffery jumped ship to sign with the Philadelphia Eagles, and it left Chicago with a gaping hole in its roster. Trust me when I say that the addition of Markus Wheaton doesn't help much. Kendall Wright might, and his signing may also make Eddie Royal expendable.
At this moment, none of the remaining options on the open market would be enough to fix the Bears' receiving corps. That's why they need to invest at least a mid-round pick on a pass catcher during the 2017 NFL Draft. Otherwise, they'll head into the season with Kevin White, Cameron Meredith and Wright as their top receivers. That isn't going to cut it, especially in the tough NFC North.
So why not target someone like Chad Hansen at the start of Day 3? There's a good chance he comes off the board earlier, but the top of the fourth round isn't out the question considering the relative abundance of talent at wide receiver available in this year's class.
Hansen isn't a physical freak and didn't dominate the Combine, but wins with smart, aggressive play. He owns a reliable pair of hands, runs crisp routes and is capable of racking up significant yards after the catch. I wouldn't go anywhere near calling Hansen a No. 1 receiver, but he has the tools to develop into a quality No. 2 or No. 3 receiver in a couple of years.
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Daeshon Hall
Outside Linebacker, Texas A&M
Of all of the areas the Bears need to address, edge rusher isn't really one of them. However, with Pernell McPhee, Lamarr Houston and Leonard Floyd all a tad injury prone as of late, Chicago could use some added depth at outside linebacker.
What really enticed me to take Daeshon Hall with this pick, though, is his raw potential. Most folks who watched Texas A&M football this past season were so focused on Myles Garrett, they often missed the guy on the side of the defensive line. It's unfortunate, because he's an exceptional talent in his own right.
Now there is some uncertainty about what position he'll play at the next level. While more of an outside linebacker in terms of size and strength, Hall shined with his hand in the dirt. If he can continue to pack on some pounds and get stronger, it's not out of the question for him to transition inside in the Bears' 3-4 defense.
Either way, I believe Hall has immense potential at the next level. It may not be nearly as much as his running mate with the Aggies, but there's little reason to believe he can't carve out his own niche in the NFL.
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Marquez White
Cornerback, Florida State
Since the start of free agency, the Bears have made some strides at cornerback. The addition of Prince Amukamara was a good start, and Marcus Cooper was a solid signing with some ball skills. Even with those two now on the roster, more depth wouldn't hurt.
It's not like Kyle Fuller can be counted on moving forward after his passion for football was questioned last year. Tracy Porter is a solid starter, but certainly can't keep the passing game contained on his own. There are also some younger options such as Bryce Callahan, Deiondre' Hall and Cre'von LeBlanc. Still, I'm a firm believer that you can never have too much cornerback depth.
Hence, the selection of Marquez White here. Now I want to make it clear that this is a pick based largely on potential. After flashing serious skills in 2015, the Florida State product failed to keep that momentum rolling in 2016. He often struggled with some of the finer points of the position such as hip flexibility and turning to run with receivers, leading to a significant drop in stock.
Still, the potential is there for him to return to form with some NFL-caliber coaching. He's a tremendous athlete with good instincts and awareness in coverage. White has the upside you're looking, especially if it only costs a fifth-round pick to bring him to Chicago.
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Kyle Fuller
Center, Baylor
Last season, the Bears found themselves a rising star at center in Cody Whitehair. The 2016 second-round pick stepped into the starting role, and never looked back. It's safe to say they're pretty set atop the center depth chart moving forward.
The actual "depth" part of the equation is a concern, though. Right now, 2015 third-round pick Hroniss Grasu is penciled in as the No. 2 center. However, he's coming off an ACL tear that cost him his entire sophomore season—that's after playing in only nine games as a rookie. Suffice it to say, he's not the most reliable of options at this point.
As a result, the Bears could look to add some depth along the interior during the draft. It's not a huge priority by any means, but a late-round pick could provide some further stability while also putting pressure on Grasu to perform. Otherwise, the former Oregon standout could soon find himself without a home in the NFL.
Baylor's Kyle Fuller is no star in the making, but he has some of the physical traits that teams look for. He obviously checks off the "size" box at 6-5, 307 pounds, but is lacking in athleticism and needs help with his footwork. If injuries keep Grasu from growing, though, Fuller could potentially step in as a capable backup behind Whitehair.