The 2021 Chicago Bears draft plans can go any number of ways. That is how the draft works. It’s hard to predict because 31 other teams are involved. However, with enough research and educated guesswork? It’s not hard to get a good feel for how things will go. This due to knowledge of the men in charge, the resources available, and the likely prospects who may or may not be in their sights.
That leads to an interesting pair of questions.
What will the Bears do with their first pick in the draft? Then, what should they do? Sometimes these questions end up being one and the same. Other times they can be quite different. For example, in 2017, they were going to take a quarterback and they needed to take a quarterback. Obviously, they took the wrong one but the intent and reasoning were in alignment. Is that the case again this year?
Chicago Bears draft plans aren’t hard to predict
What they will do: Stay put at #20 and draft a skill player
Ryan Pace has no fear when it comes to being aggressive. He’s traded up from his first pick in three of the past six drafts. Twice in the 1st round. So will he do it this year? Probably not. The only position one can logically say the Bears would jump for is a quarterback. That possibility is remote though what with experts predicting the top five names at that position could be gone before the end of the top 10 picks.
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Looking at the rest of the board, there really isn’t a shallow position in talent that would force the Bears to move up. That is why it’s best to expect Chicago will stay put at #20. If so, what happens when they go on the clock? A lot of fans are hoping the team takes an offensive tackle. It’s been far too long since the Bears drafted a lineman in the 1st round. Could this be the year that streak breaks?
No. Ryan Pace has proven already that he approaches the draft in a specific way. He feels he can fill out the trenches with quality talent on the second and third days. That is why he saves the 1st round for the skill position players. Just look at what he’s done so far: wide receiver, outside linebacker, quarterback, inside linebacker.
By contrast, he’s drafted a lineman in the 2nd round three times in 2015, 2016, and 2018. Things can always change but given the Bears appear set in terms of starters on the offensive line this year? The signs point to them targeting a skill player. Probably a wide receiver or cornerback.
What they should do: Trade down
The Chicago Bears draft specials should see a notable problem with the roster. Age. A good part of their core is approaching the downside of their careers. Right around the point where they start to lose their ability to impact games like they use to. When age becomes an issue, it falls to the team to find ways to infuse it with a youth injection. That requires draft picks.
- Khalil Mack – 30
- Akiem Hicks – 31
- Danny Trevathan – 31
- Jimmy Graham – 34
Right now the team is leaning heavily on veterans for depth at key positions. This is because Pace has thrown away a lot of draft picks in prior trades. Two 3rds and a 4th for Mitch Trubisky. A future 2nd for Anthony Miller. A future 4th for David Montgomery. Those losses will start to add up eventually unless the team finds a way to replenish them.
This is a prime opportunity to move down and secure one or two extra picks. They aren’t going to land a quarterback of consequence at #20 anyway. Their primary positions of need at wide receiver, offensive tackle, and cornerback are all considered among the deepest in the 2021 class. That means they should be able to secure a quality player even if they were to 5-10 spots.
Pace always says he considers a trade back every year but never does. Often because he never likes any of the offers he gets. This time he needs to just take the best he can get.
