The Chicago Bears draft couldn’t have started off much better. GM Ryan Pace had a tendency to target project players with huge upside through his first three years. The results aren’t ideal to this point, though promise remains. This time around? Things were different. With increased input from his coaching staff, specifically Vic Fangio, the Bears landed Dick Butkus award-winning linebacker Roquan Smith.
This was a departure from Pace because Smith is much more a football player than athlete. Don’t get it mixed up though. The kid is a great athlete but his proven production and dominance at the college level separates him from what the Bears got in White, Floyd and even Trubisky. He’s a ready-made starter from Day 1 who can be a star in this defense.
No complaints about the pick at all. Yet this might be only the beginning of the Bears’ good fortune. Thanks to a series of puzzling moves late in the first round, the early part of the second round could not look much better for them as they stand to possibly gain another instant playmaker.
Chicago Bears draft board is breaking just the right way
Given the outlook for Day 2, current estimates are there could be as many as seven players available who have first round grades that fit a Bears need. Edge rusher, offensive line, cornerback and even wide receiver seem ready and willing to answer the bell. It’s remarkable how fortune the board has fallen to this point.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Definitely some intriguing players for the #Bears to consider on Day 2 of draft — think needs:
C James Daniels
G Will Hernandez
CB Josh Jackson
CB Isaiah Oliver
OLB Harold Landry
WR Courtland Sutton
WR Anthony Miller
OLB Lorenzo Carter
WR Christian Kirk
OL Connor Williams— Adam Jahns (@adamjahns) April 27, 2018
The two biggest names on that list have to be UTEP guard Will Hernandez and Boston College pass rusher Harold Landry. Both were projected by many to be top 20 picks this year yet for one reason or another, they’ve tumbled into the second round. Both could fit a huge need for the Bears if they somehow slip to the 39th pick.
Isaiah Oliver is another name to watch. He was connected to the Bears heavily before the draft. His mixture of athleticism and rare length (33.5-inch arms) make him an ideal type of player for Fangio’s secondary. Not to mention he was coached by a guy at Colorado who is old friends with the Bears defensive coordinator.
It really feels like the Bears can’t go wrong. In fact, Pace could feel free to do what he’s done the past two years and move back to acquire more picks. Depending on how far, he could still land one of those names. There is plenty of reason to feel confident about this draft.
