The Chicago Bears have a set list of needs going into the 2021 NFL draft. This is the same for every team. GM Ryan Pace will have the job of trying to fill those needs as best he can, improving his roster enough to make a playoff run. With eight picks at his disposal including the 20th pick overall, he has an opportunity to do just that. He no doubt understands the stakes are high.
Many believe his job is up for grabs this year. Failing to produce a good season could lead to major changes at Halas Hall. George McCaskey granted him another chance. He can’t afford to blow it. What makes it that much more challenging isn’t just the Bears’ draft position. It’s the nature of the 2021 class itself. Due to the pandemic, several of the players on boards either played little or didn’t play at all last season. So teams have incomplete data on prospects. Something they absolutely hate.
Combine this with the Bears’ current situation?
It would explain what a source told me regarding their draft approach this year. Expectations are that Pace and the rest of the brass will likely restrict their board to players they label with the “ready now” designation. In other words, players who have extended college backgrounds and clean injury histories. Don’t expect a lot of bold ventures on project types.
This shouldn’t be a huge surprise. After a rather uneventful free agency period, the Bears need to find players who can contribute immediately in this draft. They can’t afford to do any select-and-stash types. Guys who may take a year before they’re ready to play. Considering how they’ve also been burned in the past by prospects with injury backgrounds? This approach should be applauded.
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This should remove key names from the Ryan Pace board
Start with the quarterbacks. Trey Lance of North Dakota State is a hot name in this class. Yet many feel he’ll require a year before he’s ready. So if the Bears were to trade up for a QB, it’s a safe bet he wouldn’t be their target. The same goes for Davis Mills of Stanford. While there are rumors the Bears like him, his iffy injury background and having started just 11 games in college are huge red flags.
Kadarius Toney of Florida only had one productive season at wide receiver. So he’s unlikely. Cornerback Caleb Farley of Virginia Tech, a popular choice for the Bears in mock drafts, has back issues and now just got slapped with COVID-19. Don’t expect that to happen. There is also his teammate Christian Darrisaw, a prominent left tackle prospect who had core muscle surgery recently.
Conversely, this approach bodes well for other prospects.
Two quarterbacks worth watching are Kyle Trask of Florida and Kellen Mond of Texas A&M. Both are well-versed in pro-style offenses. Mond has almost four full years of experience under his belt. Trask worked under Dan Mullen, who produced Alex Smith and Dak Prescott among others in college. Elijah Moore of Ole Miss put up good numbers across two years as a receiver at Ole Miss and remained injury-free. Offensive tackle Teven Jenkins started three full seasons at Oklahoma State.
Those are just a few of the names Ryan Pace could be targeting in the 1st round alone. Keeping these details in mind once the action kicks off could prove important.
