With five days remaining, this will be the last Chicago Bears 2020 mock draft. Plenty of scenarios have been explored in that time from big trades up the board to not moving at all. However, it's time to get serious. What is the most likely scenario GM Ryan Pace is aiming for that give him the best chance to deliver a solid draft? One that puts the Bears in position to win some football games this year.
Factoring in Pace's preferences, the team's needs, and some of the known names they've met with, this mock draft tries to stay as true to reality as possible. It covers a number of key needs. There are definite risks involved, some for background reasons and others for health. Still, there is a ton of talent that comes the Bears' way. Whether they can get the most out of it depends on how things play out.
The Final Chicago Bears 2020 mock draft
- Trade: #43 pick and #227 pick to Ravens for #60 pick, #92 pick and #129 pick
2nd Round (Pick #50) - Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
Ha Ha Clinton-Dix wasn't a bad player for the Bears in 2019. He just wasn't what they needed. His presence actually took away from the secondary because it forced Eddie Jackson to play around the line of scrimmage more often. That is not where he is most effective. He needs to be on the back end where he can make quarterbacks pay for testing throws deep. So what the Bears need is a true strong safety who can play in the box.
Some people will be afraid of Chinn because he goes to a smaller program. However, don't be fooled. At 6'3, this kid is an athletic beast who dominated his level of competition. He has 4.45 speed and it shows on tape. He'll attack the line of scrimmage, tackles well, can blitz, and is surprisingly good in man coverage. This means he'll be a big help against tight ends.
- Trade: #60 pick and #234 pick to Seahawks for #64 pick and #133 pick
2nd Round (Pick #64 via KC) - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
One thing the Bears offense has continued to lack is explosiveness in the passing game. Allen Robinson is one of the most dependable receivers in football but his style is moving the chains and being a safety valve. Mitch Trubisky or Nick Foles will need a threat who can attack down the field or take short passes for long gains after the catch. They'd hoped Taylor Gabriel would be that guy but it didn't pan out.
Shenault showed all of those traits at Colorado. He pretty much was their entire offense. Not only a fast guy that stressed corners deep but a physical bully who ran through tackles constantly. Line him up anywhere, get him the ball and he'll make something happen. The problem is he has a track record of injury issues. His ceiling is as high as any in the class but can he stay healthy? This is why getting him after two trades back mitigates the risk.
3rd Round (Pick #92 via BAL) - Matt Hennessy, OL, Temple
The exit of Kyle Long at right guard has created uncertainty along the Bears' interior three on the offensive line. They need stability in order for their offensive system to work but right now their options are questionable. Rashaad Coward? Alex Bars? Germain Ifedi? Those are the three options they have to replace Long at the present. Not the most encouraging look. So they might try to find a solution.
One name that has steadily gotten more and more buzz from notable evaluators is Hennessy. His mixture of athleticism, quickness, technique, and toughness have some thinking he's one of the four best interior linemen in the draft. He's a bit undersized but makes up for it with sharp fundamentals. If the Bears are still intent on moving Cody Whitehair to guard, he could be the solution James Daniels wasn't.
4th Round (Pick #129 via BAL) - Ken Willekes, EDGE, Michigan State
Parting with Leonard Floyd in favor of Robert Quinn was absolutely the right move for the Bears. It added a legitimate pass rusher across from Khalil Mack from the first time since he came to Chicago and sets up a dangerous combination for 2020. That said, the depth behind those two is pretty suspect with Isaiah Irving and Barkevious Mingo as their only options.
Willekes isn't going to win awards as an athlete. He's not the biggest, strongest, or fastest. His success comes from intelligence, hard work, and a relentlessness that few in this draft class can match. The guy's motor never stops. He might not ever be that double-digit sack artist but if a team is looking for that rotational pass rusher who can give them 5-6 sacks per year? Willekes fits that mold perfectly.
4th Round (Pick #133 via SEA) - Antonio Gibson, RB, Memphis
Probably one of the biggest disappointments of 2019 was Tarik Cohen. After such a prolific year at running back in 2018, his lack of explosive plays in general last season was concerning. He didn't get much traction on the ground and he too often settled for the sideline when catching passes. Combine this with a contract that expires in 2021? The Bears might be looking for a replacement in this draft.
Gibson is the name that keeps coming up among evaluators. While it's a tug-of-war on whether he's a running back or wide receiver, there is no question he's electric with the ball in his hands. He has speed and quickness to go along with deceptive strength to run through tackles. The kid doesn't have a clear position but he's an offensive weapon opponents will have to game plan for.
5th Round (Pick #164) - Josiah Deguara, TE, Cincinnati
Trey Burton is gone. It was probably the most surprising move of the offseason by the Bears given their general weakness at tight end. Clearly they felt his shaky health history wasn't worth gambling on anymore. So they cut their losses. That said, the U-tight end spot is suddenly in question. Can they find somebody to plug it alongside Jimmy Graham?
While the 2020 draft class is light on good tight ends, it has a few interesting names that fly under the radar. Deguara is one of them. He's a bit undersized but a rugged and determined blocker both on the ground and in pass protection. He also shows an instinct for finding soft spots in coverage, making him a strong H-back option the Bears could move around similar to what they did with Burton.
6th Round (Pick #197) - A.J. Green, CB, Oklahoma State
Cornerback is one of the toughest positions to figure out for the Bears. Kyle Fuller? Stud. Buster Skrine? Adequate. Beyond them, it's a lot of question marks. Kevin Toliver has upside but didn't show much in brief appearances. Tre Roberson was a star in the CFL but failed in his first NFL stint four years ago. Artie Burns was a 1st round pick but never lived up to that status. They don't really have any definitive answers.
While taking a corner earlier would've been preferable, the board just didn't fall that way. Still, A.J. Green is a name that is worth some attention. He impressed some people during the pre-draft process with his mix of good size and athleticism. He showed flashes of strong coverage in press-man. If he can master the fundamental discipline needed to battle NFL receivers, there is starter potential.
6th Round (Pick #201 via PHI) - Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
The Bears always have to think in the long-term at quarterback. Beyond 2020, there are definite questions. Mitch Trubisky and Tyler Bray will both be free agents. Nick Foles will have two years left on his deal but a player option to become a free agent if he wishes. So there isn't much security beyond this season for Chicago. While finding a future starter would be nice, a future backup wouldn't be that bad either.
Stanley is one of the more divisive QBs in this class. He's big, boasts a strong arm, shows accuracy on the deep ball and is well-versed in playing a pro-style offense. At the same time, he has questionable decision-making, misses a lot of easier throws, and isn't known for being the most mobile guy in the world. He has enough upside to start in the NFL but at the very least should be a dependable backup.
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