All things considered, Ryan Pace and the Chicago Bears have to feel pretty good about their prospects for the NFL draft tonight. The board broke in such a way that several talented players at key positions of need remain available. The Bears hold the 11th and 18th picks in the 2nd round, which gives them ample opportunity to upgrade their roster if they play their cards right.
So how might things play out? Here is a 2nd round mock draft covering all picks. Possible trades are included with a keen focus on remaining team needs.
How 2nd round could break for the Chicago Bears
- 33 - Cincinnati Bengals - Josh Jones, OT, Houston
- 34 - Indianapolis Colts (via WSH) - Michael Pittman Jr., WR, USC
- 35 - Trade: Houston Texans (via DET) - Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State
- 36 - New York Giants - A.J. Epeneza, DE, Iowa
- 37 - New England Patriots (via LAC) - Zack Baun, LB, Wisconsin
- 38 - Carolina Panthers - Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor
- 39 - Miami Dolphins - De'Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
- 40 - Detroit Lions (via HOU) - Ross Blacklock, DT, TCU
- 41 - Cleveland Browns - Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
- 42 - Jacksonville Jaguars - Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
43 - Chicago Bears - Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama
Ryan Pace couldn't have asked for a better stroke of good fortune. The Bears have a gaping hole at the safety spot opposite Eddie Jackson. They need somebody who can play down in the box against the run, allowing their prized free safety to stay back in coverage where he's the most dangerous. Xavier McKinney can be that guy and so much more for this defense.
He plays really well in a downhill style, making tackles near the line of scrimmage and is especially dangerous as a blitzer. Yet this overshadows how good he is in coverage too. He's able to handle the opposing tight end over the middle and can survive man-to-man when asked. The fact he went to the same school as Jackson only makes it more fitting.
- 44 - Trade: New York Jets (via IND) - Darrell Taylor, EDGE, Tennessee
- 45 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Minnesota
- 46 - Denver Broncos - Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU
- 47 - Atlanta Falcons - Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State
- 48 - Indianapolis Colts (via NYJ) - Kyle Dugger, S, Lenoir-Rhyne
- 49 - Pittsburgh Steelers - Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
50 - Trade: Baltimore Ravens (via CHI) - John Simpson, OG, Clemson
The Ravens suffered a tough blow to their offensive line with the retirement of star guard Marshal Yanda. They need to plug that void with a good mauling blocker for their running game. So they hand the Bears a 4th round pick to jump up from #55 to get their guy in John Simpson.
- 51 - Dallas Cowboys - Trevon Diggs, CB, Alabama
- 52 - Los Angeles Rams - Marlon Davidson, EDGE, Auburn
- 53 - Philadelphia Eagles - Robert Hunt, OT, Louisiana-Lafayette
- 54 - Buffalo Bills - Julian Okwara, EDGE, Notre Dame
55 - Trade: Seattle Seahawks (via CHI) - Jabari Zuniga, EDGE, Florida
Seattle has a number of concerns regarding their pass rush what with Jadeveon Clowney remaining an unknown. Given how much Pete Carroll loves to stockpile edge guys, it makes sense they'd jump up for somebody they like. Jabari Zuniga fits the profile of players they tend to covet. The Bears get another 4th rounder along with #59.
- 56 - Miami Dolphins (via NO) - Jeremy Chinn, S, Southern Illinois
- 57 - Los Angeles Rams (via HOU) - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
- 58 - Minnesota Vikings - Saahdiq Charles, OT, LSU
59 - Chicago Bears (via SEA) - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Pace finally makes that second pick and he absolutely did a good thing. It's a considerable surprise that Tee Higgins lasted this long. In any other year he might've gone in the 1st round. The ridiculous depth of this class makes it possible for the Bears to snag another playmaking receiver to go along with Allen Robinson and Anthony Miller.
Higgins was the go-to guy in Clemson's passing attack the past two years, helping them reach two national championship games and winning one of them. He's tall with underrated speed, great body control, strong hands, and an ability to stress defenses down the field. Most importantly? He was lethal in the red zone (25 TDs in two years), an area the Bears offense needs a lot of help.
- 60 - Baltimore Ravens - Raekwon Davis, DL, Alabama
- 61 - Tennessee Titans - Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State
- 62 - Green Bay Packers - K.J. Hamler, WR, Penn State
- 63 - Kansas City Chiefs (via SF) - Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
- 64 - Seattle Seahawks (via KC) - Lloyd Cushenberry, OL, LSU
All things considered, the Bears did themselves a big favor here. They nabbed two playmakers who can start right away. McKinney will protect the back end of their defense and help feast off that pass rush. Higgins will become another valuable target for Nick Foles or Mitch Trubisky in that passing game. Not to mention being able to snag a couple of precious 4th round picks.
