Windy City Gridiron
Six mock drafts, six different directions for the Bears.
Let’s round up what some of the NFL Draft experts think the Chicago Bears will do in next week’s draft.
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald of Yahoo Sports alternated picks in their latest mock draft, with Tice getting the even numbers and the Bears.
10. Chicago Bears — Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Let’s keep juicing up that Bears offense. I was tempted to give the Bears another player on the trenches to work with (Will Campbell and Derrick Harmon were both considered), but instead go with Loveland. I profiled Loveland recently, he’s already a dynamic receiving threat and shows real chops to be a full-time in-line blocker. Loveland and Cole Kmet would create a fun tight end room in Chicago, help the run game on the edges, and give Caleb Williams and new head coach Ben Johnson another fun toy to work with in the passing game.
This mock was interesting because LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell was still on the board, but Tice went with a tight end. Taking Loveland over Penn State tight end Tyler Warren is something that has been gaining steam over the last few weeks.
Jordan Plocher from Pro Football Focus also has the Bears passing on Campbell (and Missouri’s OL Armand Membou), but they take the top running back on the board.
10. CHICAGO BEARS: RB ASHTON JEANTY, BOISE STATE
A workhorse running back like Jeanty should help take some pressure off quarterback Caleb Williams. In addition to his well-established ground-game ability, Jeanty is also an excellent pass catcher who averaged 11.1 yards after the catch per reception and forced 41 missed tackles as a receiver during his college career.
Running back at ten isn’t my favorite idea, but if Jeanty is there, that pick seems likely, and I’ll be excited to see how Ben Johnson would incorporate him into the offense.
The USA Today’s Nate Davis has the Bears going in an unexpected direction, but with Jeanty, Campbell, and Membou off the board, this could be the best player left.
10. Chicago Bears – CB Will Johnson, Michigan
He’s providing a personal workout Monday in Ann Arbor – and that could carry a lot of weight given the shoulder, toe and hamstring injuries Johnson has dealt with over the past year. But if he looks like the player who was a first-team All-American for the Wolverines’ 2023 national championship squad, then he could (should?) be the first pure corner off the board. And the Bears could certainly use a better outside cover man opposite Pro Bowler Jaylon Johnson. Will Johnson has prototypical size (6-2, 194) and ball skills for the position, swiping nine passes (two of them pick-sixes) during three seasons at Michigan.
Johnson is a good prospect, and in this scenario, getting the number one corner might be the best play.
Doug Farrar from Athlon Sports has some wild picks in his top nine,...
