The mock offseasons are over. So it's time to narrow the focus. A true
Chicago Bears 2021 mock draft. Free agency, while still ongoing, has gotten past the primary stages. GM Ryan Pace has filled most of the primary voids in the roster and is focused on depth at this point. His goal remains the same as always. Plug the holes with veterans so he can secure the best players available in April.
So how could this play out? Some believe they'll gear up for a massive jump up the board in an effort to land a quarterback. Others think they stay pout and hope to land the best offensive player they can get. In this case, it's neither. Instead, Pace does something he's never done before. Something that hopefully helps to help the Bears in both the present on near future.
Chicago Bears 2021 mock draft is about a youth infusion
Trade: Bears send 20th pick to Bills for 28th pick and 2nd in 2021
1st Round (28th pick) - Greg Newsome, CB, Northwestern
A lot of fans won't be happy to see a defensive player being the first
pick. Not when the offense for Chicago has been the bigger issue for so many years. Sometimes though the board falls the way it does and a team needs to pick the best player. Getting Newsome with the 28th pick is a steal. If the Bears were looking for a long-term Kyle Fuller replacement, this kid is capable of it.
There isn't any box he doesn't check. Size, speed, athleticism, and ball skills are all there. He was the best player on one of the best defenses in the country last season. The fact he's a Chicago kid makes it all the sweeter. Some have compared him to former Detroit Lions Pro Bowler Darius Slay. If that proves accurate, the Bears got themselves a good one.
2nd Round (52nd pick) - Stone Forsythe, OT, Florida
Both of the Bears' projected starting tackles are Charles Leno and Germain Ifedi. Both are in the last year of their respective contracts. Translation? Everything points to the team investing a high draft choice at that position. Preferably somebody who can take over the left side in the long-term and be an improvement over Leno. Grabbing Forsythe here is a quality swing.
This guy is the perfect developmental prospect. An absolute mountain at 6'9, 315 lbs. His athleticism and length stand out consistently as a pass protector. He was a huge reason Kyle Trask put up such big-time numbers in 2020. However, he's an incomplete project. One who suffers from lapses in judgment with inconsistent technique. Spending a year behind Leno will be ideal for him.
2nd Round (61st pick) - Rondale Moore, WR, Purdue
Anthony Miller had his chances to become the player the Bears thought he'd be. He wasted them with his disappointing performance last year. Now he's on the trade block. That leaves the position of slot receiver wide open. It's only natural this Bears 2021 mock draft seek to fill it. One thing to remember about this team is they've started to put a greater focus on speed.
That is why Moore fits the profile so well. He's not the biggest guy at 5'7 and has his share of injury
problems in the past. Yet the kid is absolute dynamite with the ball in his hands. Just electric speed along with quickness and agility. He's also stronger than he looks. Imagine him in the slot with Darnell Mooney flanked out wide and Tarik Cohen in the backfield. Defenses won't like that.
3rd Round (83rd pick) - Davis Mills, QB, Stanford
What is the plan at quarterback? This is the question fans keep asking. One the Bears have yet to answer. Mitch Trubisky flopped. The push for Russell Wilson didn't work. Andy Dalton is the starter for 2021 but he's on a one-year deal and Nick Foles is surrounded by trade rumors. Chicago has no path forward at quarterback. That is why they decide to take a calculated risk on Mills here.
In terms of talent? He has the good. Plenty of size to go along with a live arm that can deliver almost any throw in the playbook. He's also more mobile than he looks. The problem is Mills didn't start a lot of games at Stanford due mostly to knee problems and the arrival of COVID-19. So he's relatively inexperienced and needs considerable work. Having John DeFilippo there to help will be key.
5th Round (164th pick) - Caden Sterns, S, Texas
Chicago doesn't have a definitive starter at safety. So it's possible they could end up holding a competition. If so, adding another body via the draft would make sense. Sterns is much more the traditional strong safety. Big, physical, and aggressive. He thrives around the line of scrimmage as a run defender and blitzer. Can he improve his instincts and play recognition? If so, he'll be a good football player.
6th Round (204th pick) - Chris Rumph II, EDGE, Duke
Size will be a sticking point for many teams with Rumph. He's short and on the thinner side for NFL edge defenders. Yet it's impossible to deny his ability to get into the opposing backfield. He'll remind people a lot of Clay Matthews Jr. with his knack for creating pressure from all sorts of angles. The Bears have plenty of intel on what he can do since they employ his father as their new defensive line coach. He can be a useful utility weapon.
6th Round (221st pick) - Garrett Wallow, LB, TCU
In terms of leadership, instincts, and athleticism? Wallow can play. He was a constant annoyance for opposing offenses. So why this late in the draft? Two reasons. His tendency to play undisciplined at times and him being on the smaller side at 6'1, 230 lbs. That makes him a tough fit in some defenses but Chicago could be a good spot for him. He'll excel on special teams and perhaps be something more down the line.
6th Round (228th pick) - Josh Imatorbhebhe, WR, Illinois
In terms of freakish athletic specimens, they don't get much better than Imatorbhebhe. Not only is he 6'2, but also boasts a ridiculous 46.5-inch vertical jump. His 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day, even if on the generous side also shows he can run. The kid is an athletic talent. He just isn't ready. His route running is basic and needs a lot of work. This is a project pick. One that can pay off huge if Mike Furrey is indeed good at his job.
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