One thing everybody knows is Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune has better connections to the Chicago Bears than almost any other insider. So when he mentioned something in columns he rights, it’s important to remember he’s likely doing it with some good idea of what the team is really thinking. Last year, in his final mock draft, he had the Bears taking a tackle. That proved correct. He indicated before almost everybody that the team was moving on from Justin Fields and taking a quarterback at #1. This is why it is interesting to see where their thinking might be for the 9th pick just over a week from now.
Biggs released his latest mock draft, which featured a new twist. The first two followed the widespread belief that Chicago would stay at #9 and take one of the top wide receivers. This time, things were different. He had the Bears trading down a couple of spots. From there, he pulled another surprise twist by bypassing the wide receiver and pass rushers in favor of another offensive tackle, one they likely see as a replacement for Braxton Jones on the left side.
“Troy Fautanu, OT, Washington
The Bears could be leaning offense with their second pick after Caleb Williams, and that means a choice between a receiver and protection for the quarterback. Fautanu is athletic and moves well and could step in as the Day 1 starter at left tackle, giving the Bears young bookend tackles and an upgrade over Braxton Jones.”
The Chicago Bears’ interest in Fautanu wouldn’t be a shock.
Remember, GM Ryan Poles loves big athletes. The Washington left tackle is both of those things. He’s 6’4, 317 lbs, and boasts 34-inch arms. His 32.5-inch vertical jump and 1.71 time in the 10-yard split were better than Darnell Wright’s combine numbers. His Relative Athletic Score (RAS) was 9.45, ranking him 72nd of 1,293 offensive tackles drafted since 1987. A popular comparison for him is Los Angeles Chargers left tackle Rashawn Slater, who made the Pro Bowl in 2021. Fautanu actually has longer arms, too.
So, yeah. His name coming up feels interesting. Poles knows he has a young quarterback coming in, but they’ve already upgraded the receiving corps with the arrival of Keenan Allen via trade. If they feel Fautanu is a true upgrade over Jones, drafting him makes plenty of sense. Few things are more valuable in the NFL than a reliable left tackle. The critical issue with Fautanu is his technique. While a tremendous brawler who plays through every whistle, he can get caught out of position at times due to inconsistent fundamentals. Those would have to be ironed out.
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@Booger McFarland I hate the comment section as well. Going back and proofreading is a pain and I’m way too impatient. But an author or columnist with all the time in the world to proof his copy and/or send it to an editor, wow, just wow. But then again, a completely newsworthy and professional site wouldn’t probably be named SportsMockery. Only one that mocks the truly newsworthy. The only thing I really love about this site is that we don’t have to read the same 19 articles a week about Ohtani, the Dodgers, the Evil Empire NY Yankees and elite… Read more »
Easy. Take Bowers. If you don’t want him for some strange reason, trade back if you can get a 2nd rounder added this year. Take a DE or 3-Tech or Center and then a WR in the 2nd.
It’s not like testing to be an actuary.
@Dr. Melhus – I would take that Washington deal, but I doubt that deal would even remotely be made by Washington. I honestly am leaning more and more toward a trade down unless Alt or one of the 3 WRs are there, but I don’t believe they will be. If they are all gone, and Murphy is gone, it means this mythological 4-5 QBs in the top 10 didn’t happen. It also means that Bowers is most likely there. I still trade down. I think if they go anywhere in the mid teens they won’t get more than a 3rd.… Read more »
@Booger McFarland: Erik is in desperate need of an editor. I’ve mentioned it several times on this site. And yes, the “column he (Biggs) rights” got my goat too. He’ll mess up pronoun references, omit key words like “not” to make what he wrote the opposite of what he was trying to say, etc. All I can say to that is that if you really don’t like it, like me, we can ask for our money back, …. @Colonel K: Agree completely. If for some reason Alt is on the board at #9, they should take him instead of trading… Read more »
Or, if anyone really WILL pay big time to move up, we could trade back and draft DE or C, or 3 Tech…
That’s IF anyone will overpay to move up. But I’m hearing that’s not considered likely.