Mel Kiper Predicts Chicago Bears Take A Big 1st Round Gamble

Mel Kiper is one of the most established and respected NFL draft experts of the past 40 years. He's done great work for ESPN for decades. He's also developed a reputation for being pretty accurate with his mock drafts in that time. He correctly predicted the Bears would take an offensive tackle in the 1st round in 2023 and nailed the Rome Odunze pick at 9th overall last year. That is why it is essential not to ignore his assessment. He has plenty of connections in the draft community, so his information might be better than people realize.

Kiper had the Bears selecting the best offensive lineman on their board for weeks before the start of free agency. That changes after the team's flurry of moves to acquire Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney, and Drew Dalman. He believes GM Ryan Poles will shift his focus to the other side of the line of scrimmage, doubling down on the pass rush. Their choice ends up being a bit of a surprise.

Mykel Williams, OLB, Georgia

I've gone offensive line for the Bears in both of my previous mock drafts, but that box was checked in free agency. Chicago traded for guards Joe Thuney and Jonah Jackson then signed center Drew Dalman. And while the Bears also added Dayo Odeyingbo and Grady Jarrett on the defensive front, they could still use someone like Williams coming off the edge. They ranked in the middle of the pack last season in sacks (40) but were 24th in pass rush win rate (36.5%).

Williams is a toolsy prospect who can beat blockers with his speed or power. He missed time with an ankle injury early last season but still picked up five sacks. Given a little more time to develop, he could be a really solid NFL edge rusher.

The Chicago Bears went with Williams for a few reasons.

Before anybody feels indignant to point out the team would just take running back Ashton Jeanty or tight end Tyler Warren, know that neither of them was available. Kiper had Jeanty going 6th overall to Las Vegas and Warren 7th overall to New York. That left the Bears in a tricky spot. They could've gone with Armand Membou, the talented Missouri tackle, or North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. However, Kiper felt the team would choose to stick with a more premium position at edge rusher.

In terms of pure talent, Mykel Williams is one of the ten best in this class. He's earned comparisons to Gregory Rousseau and Ezekiel Ansah, two standout NFL pass rushers. He also has the precise dimensions defensive coordinator Dennis Allen prefers with a 6'5, 260 lbs frame and 34-inch arms. The fact he managed five sacks despite a debilitating ankle injury that reportedly never fully healed last season offers hope that he is a much better player than he gets credit for. Still, the Chicago Bears would be taking a calculated risk were this to happen. Williams only managed 14 sacks across three years.