The Chicago Bears draft concludes today with the final four rounds. They should be a bit more active than they've been up to this point with five picks between the 5th and 7th rounds. It doesn't really guarantee them good odds of finding a potential star. That said GM Ryan Pace does have a strong track record of finding talent late in drafts. So it's certainly something that must be watched.
So who out there might look good in navy blue? There are plenty of talented prospects still on the board. Here is a list of names to watch out for at all the remaining positions of need for the Bears. Please understand that not all of them will be available when they actually pick.
Chicago Bears draft targets on a pivotal Day 3
Quarterbacks:
Jake Fromm (Georgia)
An A+ leader with outstanding intangibles. He knows everything that's going on. Did almost nothing but win in three years. Average arm. Average size. His floor is a long-term backup but he can be a starter in the right situation.
Anthony Gordon (Washington State)
The heir to Gardner Minshew, he had a lot to live up to and ended up breaking all of Wazzu passing records. He's tough, accurate, and has a poise about him. He needs work on his fundamentals and could afford to bulk up.
James Morgan (FIU)
One of the best arm talents in the draft. Morgan has a gun and good size to boot. He came on strong in 2019 followed by a standout performance at the East-West Shrine Game. If he can fix his bad footwork and sharpen his mechanics, he can be good.
Wide receiver:
Isaiah Coulter (Rhode Island)
Coming from a small school always makes a prospect tough to project. Still, Coulter has a nice blend of size and speed. Explosive with the ball in his hands. He needs to learn why route running is so vital to his future success.
Quez Watkins (Southern Miss)
Right now he is a pure vertical threat. A 6'0 kid with 4.35 speed that can stress a secondary deep. Beyond that, it's pretty questionable. He has to embrace the work to improve his technique, though he can help in the return game immediately.
Darnell Mooney (Tulane)
Hailing from Matt Forte's alma mater, Mooney is another guy who piqued NFL interest because of his legit speed. He always had a knack for one big play per game. The big concern is he's too thin and little help on special teams.
Offensive line:
John Simpson (Clemson)
It's little secret the Bears have needed more push from their offensive in the running game. That is the calling card of Simpson. He is a mauler with good power and nastiness teams look for. The concern is can he survive in pass protection?
Cameron Clark (Charlotte)
A left tackle in college, most see him as a guard in the NFL. Excellent length, standout power, and an angry disposition when blocking. He was a team captain with great effort but needs refining in his protection technique.
Saahdiq Charles (LSU)
The forgotten member of a national championship offensive line. Charles has the size, length, and quickness good left tackles need in the NFL. What he requires is time to improve his strength and refine his hands.
Edge rusher:
Curtis Weaver (Boise State)
One can never shrug off production. Weaver had 34 sacks in three seasons. He shows the relentless motor good pass rushers need with good instinct and violent hands. Can teams look past his average size and athleticism?
Trevis Gipson (Tulsa)
A standout athlete with excellent burst and the length and bend to beat tackles around the corner. The hands are violent too. He just isn't ready. Needs more time to hone his craft. Still a year away.
Derrek Tuszka (North Dakota State)
He's not the best athlete and has concerns about his length. Yet there's just something about Tuszka. His non-stop motor and natural savvy put him in the opposing backfield way too much to be ignored.
Linebacker:
Akeem Davis-Gaither (Appalachian State)
Chuck Pagano loves to use his linebackers as blitzers and David-Gaither was made for that. Though undersized, his natural instinct and athleticism allow him to be a factor around the line of scrimmage.
Evan Weaver (Cal)
The best linebackers are always the ones who are around the football constantly and play with attitude. Weaver fits that description perfectly. Terrific instinct and immense love of football. Perfect for Chicago.
Joe Bachie (Michigan State)
Many have already compared Bachie to Nick Kwiatkoski and that's fair. Both had questions of athleticism coupled with standout toughness, instinct, and productivity. He makes the most out of what he has.
Safety:
Antoine Brooks Jr. (Maryland)
He won't fit every defense because of his size and lack of pure speed. However, his tenacity, great instinct, and toughness make him a great fit at strong safety. His QB background also feeds into his strong head for the game.
Kenny Robinson (West Virginia)
A unique back story. He left school prematurely and decided to try his hand in the XFL. Robinson made a positive impression with his all-around game and then entered the draft. A good athlete with above-average instincts.
J.R. Reed (Georgia)
Being 25-years old was always going to make Reed go later in the draft. Still, football is in his blood and his intelligence shines constantly on tape. Rarely out of position and plays consistently beyond his athletic limitations.
