Bears Mock Draft Monday: Post-Combine edition offers more clarity for who the team could target
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is behind us which means it's time for another Chicago Bears mock draft. The combine was a great opportunity to see some of the top prospects interview and test out on the field for the first time. It was also a great opportunity to hear from the coaches and general managers […]
The 2024 NFL Scouting Combine is behind us which means it's time for another Chicago Bears mock draft. The combine was a great opportunity to see some of the top prospects interview and test out on the field for the first time.
It was also a great opportunity to hear from the coaches and general managers around the league to get a feel on what positions their teams might be targeting.
In this mock draft, I'll take what I've learned from the week and apply it to what I believe the Bears could do in April's draft. I will also be trading quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers in this mock in exchange for their second round pick and a 2025 late round pick.
1st Overall Pick: QB Caleb Williams
If there's one thing we learned from the combine, it's that the Bears were not shy about their plans at the quarterback position. The Bears' front office is clearly interested in quarterback Caleb Williams and Williams shared similar feelings about potentially landing in Chicago as the first overall pick.
The only concern with this potential becoming a guarantee is the fact that the Justin Fields trade market has seemed to die down significantly while the interest in the first overall pick has skyrocketed.
I firmly believe the smart thing the Bears should do is wait out the Fields market into free agency and find someone desperate enough to give up a top draft pick while fully moving on to Williams as their next franchise quarterback.
9th Overall Pick: DE Dallas Turner
The Bears' decision with the ninth overall pick might be more difficult to pinpoint than the Bears' decision with the first overall pick. After the combine, that decision became even more difficult.
Of course the answer will ultimately be determined by how the board looks by the time the Bears are back on the clock but my feeling is that the ideal candidates at this point are either wide receiver Rome Odunze or defensive end Dallas Turner.
Based on Odunze's post-combine buzz, I believe he could be off the board by the ninth overall pick leaving the Bears to instead acquire the top pass rusher in this year's class to pair alongside defensive end Montez Sweat, which seems to be a priority.
52nd Overall Pick (via PIT): WR Xavier Legette
The combine helped answer some major questions about the wide receiver class in this year's draft and proves if you want one of the top prospects, you'll have to get them early. As many as 10+ wide receivers could be selected on opening night and if the Bears can't land Odunze at nine, they'll need to get creative to land a receiver.
Luckily, in this mock, the Bears acquired a second round pick from the Steelers in exchange for their 2023 starting quarterback and land a quality number two wide receiver in Xavier Legette to play alongside their top target, DJ Moore.
Legette had an impressive combine showing posting a 4.39 40-yard dash at 6'1, 220 pounds while drawing comparisons to Philadelphia Eagles' wide receiver A.J. Brown. Add in another smaller middle of the field wide receiver in free agency such as Curtis Samuel and this passing attack in Chicago would be lethal.
75th Overall Pick: RB Isaac Guerendo
A sneaky feeling I'm getting after the combine is that the Bears will look to acquire another running back in the draft who will be a more explosive complement to Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson after seeing how athletic this group really is.
If the Bears really want to go through with this possibility, Louisville running back Isaac Guerendo was the star of the position group on Saturday. The 6'0, 221 pound back ran an official 4.33 40-yard dash, the fastest among all running backs this year.
His athletic makeup was unbelievable and could be the next Jonathan Taylor style of back to enter the league. The Bears should capitalize on that kind of opportunity with the window that could potentially soon open for this team.
4th Round Pick: C Beaux Limmer
The interior of the Bears' offensive line needs an immediate overhaul at guard and center. While there are some quality options in free agency to pursue, the Bears can save some cap space by drafting a center upgrade in the draft after seeing how strong the class tested out on Sunday.
Arkansas' Beaux Limmer is a prospect that particularly caught my eye during the final day of the combine. Limmer was tied for the fourth-highest vertical ever by an offensive lineman with a 36.5 measurement with experience at guard and center.
4th Round Pick: TE Ben Sinnott
The Bears had a strong presence around the top of the tight end position after being linked to Brock Bowers, Ja'Tavion Sanders and Ben Sinnott through various interviews during the week. Sinnott is a real contender to be selected in the mid-rounds by the Bears after his showing in Indianapolis.
Sinnott met with Bears' tight end coach Jim Dray during the week who asked specifically about his skillset playing out of the backfield. He proved his athleticism on Friday after his 40" vertical jump was tied for the second-highest by a tight end weighing over 250 pounds since 2003. He also ran an impressive 4.68 40-yard dash.
5th Round Pick: S Jaylin Simpson
Eddie Jackson’s replacement at safety seems like a high priority for the Bears' front office this offseason and likely will be addressed before the fifth round of April's draft, but Auburn safety Jaylin Simpson was a player I couldn’t help but be impressed with.
Simpson was tied for the fastest 10-yard split among the safeties during his 4.45 40-yard dash and had an 11'1" broad jump that ranked second among all safeties. He fits the mold that head coach Matt Eberflus said he's looking for to fill Jackson's void.
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