NEWSLETTER
I had a great visit with my therapist today. Between that and an afternoon cold brew, I’ve got enough in me to power through an evening Bears post.
Let’s dig into some recent mock drafts that are giving off a notable trend.
Peter Schrager’s latest mock draft has the Bears trading down
NFL on FOX reporter and Good Morning Football host Peter Schrager doesn’t do a ton of mock drafts. So when he does one, just know that it is sourced from what he is hearing around the league. For me, mock drafts that come from league reporters carry a different type of weight. This isn’t to say those are going to predictive, but it helps provide some depth and context based on what others are saying in league circles.
With that being said, this Schrager mock is kinda bonkers — particularly when it comes to the Bears.
Schrager has the Bears passing on drafting LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers and trading the pick to the Indianapolis Colts, who proceed to use the pick on Nabers. That would ruffle some feathers of fans who want Chicago’s football team to add yet another pass-catching weapon to the offense. But it isn’t as if the Bears are coming away empty handed. Schrager has Chicago choosing Alabama offensive lineman JC Latham with the No. 15 pick. Plus, Schrager’s mock draft trade nets the Bears a future second-round pick. We’ll circle back to that momentarily. First, more on Latham:
After piling up more draft capital by trading back, the Bears still land a stud offensive tackle. Latham could be the second OT taken on draft night — some teams like him that much. If the board falls this way, Chicago adds a big, pedigreed bookend who can join last year’s first-round tackle, Darnell Wright, in protecting the new franchise quarterback, Caleb Williams.
This would be an interesting route for the Bears to go, but I’m not sure it would be the best. It’s not like I am opposed to trading down. However, I feel as if sliding down six spots should result in more than getting a future second-round pick from the Colts. It shouldn’t be possible for Indy to execute this trade without sending some 2024 draft considerations.
MORE: JC Latham Has Visited the Chicago Bears
As for the player the Bears are forecasted to pick, Latham is an interesting prospect who merits consideration. Latham is a right tackle by trade, but has positional versatility from his time with the Crimson Tide and the potential to grow into a left tackle. After all, that was his position in high school. Braxton Jones is currently holding down the fort at left tackle. But I suppose the Bears could be open to switching lanes if they believe Latham (Joe Alt? Olu Fashanu?) presents an upgrade.
The latest mock draft from Brad Biggs also offers up a trade down
OK, this is getting weird. Like Schrager, Biggs also proposes a trade down from No. 9. And just like the Schrager mock, Biggs has Chicago’s football team passing on LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers. Hey, what gives!? But this time, it is in a trade-back with the Arizona Cardinals (who Biggs has landing both of the Minnesota Vikings’ first-round picks in this class). However, one of those picks isn’t long for Manny because the Vikes use the No. 11 selection to move up and draft Nabers.
As for the Bears, Biggs sends University of Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu to Chicago with the No. 11 pick. “Fautanu is athletic and moves well and could step in as the Day 1 starter at left tackle,” Biggs writs. “giving the Bears young bookend tackles and an upgrade over Braxton Jones.”
For what it’s worth, Fautanu is reportedly on the Bears’ radar if they trade out of the No. 9 spot. However, there seems to be a belief that Fautanu projects to be better off along the interior offensive line. This isn’t to say Fautanu can’t play left tackle at the next level. But questions about his best position fit make me wonder if he is a sure-fire upgrade from Braxton Jones, who has been an above average left tackle for each of the past two years. So, for me, an offensive tackle taken with a Bears first-round better be a top-tier prospect.
With that being said, I’m not opposed to Fautanu being the Bears pick. But I’d feel better about it if I knew what else the team got in the proposed trade-back with Arizona and if it was able to flip Braxton Jones for future draft pick considerations. Let’s face it. Some NFL team that misses out on the tackle run could see a Braxton as a trade target. Solid left tackles on rookie-scale deals who were Day 3 picks don’t grow on trees.
Mel Kiper’s latest mock draft also has the Bears landing an offensive lineman, but not where you expect
Compared to the mocks by Biggs and Schrager, the dueling draft between ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates is tame. USC quarterback Caleb Williams goes first overall because duh. Meanwhile, this mock has the Bears plucking Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze with the No. 9 pick. No trade-down shenanigans to be found here. And yet, there is a trend that continues.
With the Bears’ third-round pick, Kiper has the team taking Yale offensive tackle Kiran Amegadije with the No. 75 pick. Here’s what Mel had to say about the selection:
Amegadjie played just four games last season after tearing his quad muscle in October, but he has intriguing traits in a 6-foot-5 frame. I thought about an edge rusher for the Bears, but there aren’t many likely to play early in this range. I’d rather take a flier on Amegadjie.
You don’t often think about going to Yale for your offensive line needs. Then again, you don’t think players with 6-5 and 325-pound frames with 36 1/8-inch arms would be balling out in the Ivy League. And yet, here’s Amegadjie who earned first-team All-Ivy League honors in 2022 and first-team FCS All-American status in 2023. The Hinsdale Central product could make for an interesting roll of the dice for the Bears on Day 2.
Let’s keep in mind that Kiper did mention that he considered using the pick on an edge defender. Utah’s Jonah Ellis, Clemson’s Duke Orhorhoro, Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr., Duke’s DeWayne Carter, and Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus are among the defensive linemen who go off the board after Kiper’s projected pick. Offensive lineman such as Michigan’s Zak Zinter, Kansas’ Dominick Puni, Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher, and Texas’ Christian Jones are among the offensive linemen who go after Mel’s selection for the Bears. Maybe Day 2 is the place where the Bears can take a shot at any offensive lineman?
The 2024 NFL Draft is in eight days. Unless something unforeseen happens, the Chicago Bears will be selecting Caleb Williams with the No. 1 overall pick. This team (heck, the organization as a whole) has been operating in getting-to-know-you mode when it comes to Williams. However, what happens at No. 9 is anybody’s guess.
