GM Ryan Poles faces a difficult situation. He has two masters to feed in this upcoming draft. Justin Fields needs more help on offense. At the same time, Matt Eberflus has to get his new defensive scheme situated and needs the right players to fit it. Having only six picks makes this Chicago Bears 2022 mock draft a challenge. Poles may have to get creative with some sacrifices to appease both men.
That is not to say Eberflus is working against Fields. It is more the issue of both sides of the ball needing attention. The head coach wants his quarterback to have success. One way he thinks will help is having a strong defense that can take the ball away. So this will be an interesting month. In the end, Poles isn’t dumb. This league goes through the quarterback. He must give Fields every opportunity to thrive. The defense can wait.
Chicago Bears 2022 mock draft appeases Fields and Eberflus.
Trade: Bears get 45th pick and 110th pick from Ravens for 39th pick
2nd Round (via BAL) – George Pickens, WR, Georgia
The Bears may prefer to add linemen early but sometimes the board doesn’t fall your way. Pickens being available at #45 was a surprise and an opportunity too good to pass up. From a production standpoint, the Bulldogs receiver leaves room for uncertainty. However, the tape doesn’t lie. The guy can make highlight-reel catches look routine. Good size, terrific hands, explosive leaping ability, and above-average speed make up his game. He also proved his dedication by returning so quickly from a torn ACL to help Georgia win the national championship. One added reason the Bears will like him? He’s a highly effective run blocker.
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Trade: Bears get 62nd pick and 94th pick from Chiefs for 48th pick
2nd Round (via K.C.) – Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT, Ohio State
Poles said he’s looking for two things in his offensive linemen moving forward. Athleticism and violence. He needs them to be quick and wants them to set the tone with effort and attitude in their blocks. Petit-Frere possesses both qualities. He had plenty of athletic promise as a left tackle and good length. The concerns with him are technical. Experts believe he has a lot of fundamental issues to clean up before he’s ready to start in the NFL. Chicago would be leaning on offensive line coach Chris Morgan to get that cleaned up. If he succeeds, Petit-Frere could bookend that line for years to come.
3rd Round – Cole Strange, OG, Tennessee-Chattanooga
Draft experts insisted Strange was far better than his humble small school background indicated. He proved that with a terrific week of work at the Senior Bowl. He has good size to go along with quality pass protection skills and a nasty demeanor in the trenches. He loves to mix it up with defensive linemen and isn’t afraid to talk trash. Strange has the versatility to play guard or center and shows advanced technical prowess with his hands and body positioning. He’s an excellent fit for Chicago’s new outside-zone system.
3rd Round (via K.C.) – Bryan Cook, S, Cincinnati
There was no way this Bears 2022 mock draft would end without them adding a safety. It’s a more critical position in Eberflus’ scheme than people realize and is often at its best when it has a smart, physical tone-setter on the back end. Think John Lynch in Tampa Bay or Bob Sanders in Indianapolis. Nobody embodies those enforcers better than Cook. He is a menace around the line of scrimmage, delivering hits to ball carriers and sniffing out screens with regularity. He’s athletic enough to handle himself in coverage and is an unquestioned team leader.
4th Round (via BAL) – Matthew Butler, DT, Tennessee
Teams often look for non-scheme-dependent players early in the draft. While understandable, it can often allow them to miss good talent as a result. Matthew Butler is a specific type of defensive tackle. One that is at his best when he’s allowed to shoot gaps using his excellent burst, pad level, and motor. He can make tackles for a loss and generates interior pressure on the quarterback. That is a big deal in the Bears’ new scheme. He’ll fit right in as their new three-technique.
5th Round (via HOU) – Malcolm Rodriguez, LB, Oklahoma State
There is so much to love about this kid. He’s fast and physical on the field. Leadership and intelligence stand out in equal measure. Rodriguez is always around the football, be it in the backfield or in coverage. So why is he going in the 5th round? He had the genetic misfortune of topping out at 5’11. Many NFL teams take size seriously at linebacker, and somebody that height having success is rare. Not unheard of, though. The Bears have the sort of defense that would fit him well, and they love his type.
5th Round – Alex Wright, DE, UAB
It isn’t likely this Bears 2022 mock draft ends without them adding an edge rusher at some point. They’re situated for this coming season, but Robert Quinn’s future is in question. It might be wise to add some development depth for 2023 and beyond. Wright is a perfect choice for that. He had solid production in college, but he lacked proper technique in several areas. The athleticism, size, and length are there. So is the effort. He’ll be a starter within three years if he can learn how to rush with a plan and play with instincts.
6th Round – Kevin Austin Jr., WR, Notre Dame
Many were stunned at how rapidly Austin Jr. developed last season. His start to 2021 was rough, but he was the best playmaker in the Irish’s passing attack by the end. He boasts an intriguing mixture of 6’2 size and 4.43 speed. He plays with surprising strength for his frame and can make the tough catches. His route running is okay but needs refinement. This is a classic case of a receiver that will be a better pro than a college player with some patience.
