A Chicago Bears 2018 mock draft needed to happen from Sports Mockery. With just four days left until the real action begins, it felt like a good time to get it done. To this point, it feels like the team has done almost everything right. They hired a new coaching staff that is younger and more forward-thinking than John Fox ever was, but managed to keep Vic Fangio along the way.
They added a bevy of offensive weapons in Allen Robinson, Taylor Gabriel and Trey Burton for Mitch Trubisky to play with. At the same time, they managed to keep cornerback Kyle Fuller. The only move that was questioned was their decision to let Cameron Meredith sign with New Orleans as a restricted free agent. However, given his knee issues, it’s an acceptable loss.
So here they area. Seven picks. Favorable position. What can they do? What will they do? Here’s what I think they might have in mind.
1st Round – Marcus Davenport (EDGE, UTSA)
Trade: ARI sends #15 pick and 2nd rounder for #8 pick
Ryan Pace has never traded down in the first round before. He’s been mentored by Mickey Loomis, who also never did it in New Orleans. So this would be a significant change from how Pace has operated. Still, the Bears are in good position to get a healthy return if they chose to move back with so many QB-needy teams behind them. Eventually, they secure a good deal from Arizona.
That done they’re allowed to draft somebody they probably would’ve considered at #8 overall. Pace is well-known to have a profound love of physical specimens. They don’t come much more imposing than Marcus Davenport. The UTSA defensive end has drawn comparisons to Aldon Smith thanks to his freakish combination of size, length, and athleticism. The Bears are in desperate need of pass rush help. He should be able to oblige.
2nd Round – Isaiah Oliver (CB, Colorado)
Rumors persist that the Bears have a significant interest in Colorado corner Isaiah Oliver. It’s not hard to see why. Vic Fangio covets size and length at that position. Oliver has the longest arms of any corner in the draft and a nice 6’1″ frame to go with it. He’s plenty athletic and fluid in coverage and shows enough speed to not be a liability running with receivers down the field. With Prince Amukamara approaching age 30, Oliver sets up as his long-term replacement.
2nd Round (via ARI) – Tyrell Crosby (OT, Oregon)
The Bears offensive line will likely undergo a transition with a new offense being installed. New coaches like Matt Nagy and Mark Helfrich will want guys who fit their scheme. Helfrich should give them plenty of insight on Tyrell Crosby. After all, he helped recruit the tackle to Oregon back when he was the head coach. He may not stick out as a pure athlete, but he moves better than he gets credit for. Throw in substantial power and long arms? Crosby has the makings of a productive starter at either right tackle or guard.
4th Round – Josey Jewell (ILB, Iowa)
It looks like the Bears are ready to give Nick Kwiatkoski his opportunity to start at inside linebacker. That’s not such a bad thing, but the losses of Christian Jones and Jerrell Freeman took a serious toll on the Bears’ depth at that position. Josey Jewell solves two problems for them. He improves the depth and also provides insurance against the shaky injury history of Kwiatkoski and Danny Trevathan. Jewell isn’t a premier athlete but what he lacks is made up with instinct, intelligence and relentlessness.
4th Round (via ARI) – Nathan Shepherd (DT, Fort Hays State)
Mitch Unrein is gone. The reliable veteran was never special but he was dependable. Now the Bears turn to unproven youngsters Jonathan Bullard and Roy Robertson-Harris to see who will fill that third defensive line spot next to Eddie Goldman and Akiem Hicks. Regardless of who wins, Chicago needs to bolster their depth. Nathan Shepherd is an emerging small school prospect with the size and athletic traits teams covet. He performed well at the Senior Bowl, indicating that with time he can be a capable NFL starter. It doesn’t hurt that Hicks was his pro comparison either.
5th Round – Keke Coutee (WR, Texas Tech)
The signing of Marlon Brown pretty much handles the Bears’ need for receivers with size. What they now need to think about is finding another with speed. Only Taylor Gabriel fits that criteria at present. So if he goes down with an injury, they’re screwed. That would no longer be the case if they got Keke Coutee. The undersized Texas Tech receiver may not be much to look at but he’ll instantly remind Nagy of Tyreek Hill with his versatility and blazing vertical speed. If he ever learns how to run sharp routes, it won’t be fair how dangerous he’ll become.
6th Round – Trevon Young (EDGE, Louisville)
The late rounds are about taking calculated risks. If not for a bad hip injury, Trevon Young would likely be in the top 100 conversations for this draft. When healthy he was a fast edge rusher with good size and strength to consistently harass quarterbacks. Some felt the injury ruined him, but late last season his tape started to come around. He was quicker and more aggressive than he’d been all year. This could be a sign the hip is healthy. If so, getting him this late in the draft would end up being a steal for the Bears.
7th Round – Logan Woodside (QB, Toledo)
The arrivals of Chase Daniel and Tyler Bray likely mean the Bears are set at quarterback behind Mitch Trubisky, at least for 2018. That said, there’s no such thing as enough competition. They’ve been hunting through possible late round prospect for weeks. Logan Woodside is somebody Nagy would gravitate towards. He’s a bit undersized and boasts an average arm, but he’s a leader who gets the ball out fast, on time and accurately. He also gets a high recommendation from Kareem Hunt, which certainly strengthens his case.
