Now that the Bears have won free agency, it's time to see who they're going to ruin...I mean who they're going to select in the draft. Let's take a look at how the Bears may select in the draft.
Needs
We've been over this a few times now, but it's worth revisiting. The Bears filled holes on the interior o-line and wide receiver in free agency but could still use better players at most positions. They have one good corner, 1.5 good safeties, expensive meh linebackers and a lack of depth on the d-line. They have enough needs that they should probably stick to best player available in this draft.
Round 1
The worst pick here would be Ashton Jeanty, because I would be morally obligated to make fun of the wimpy Bears for using the tenth overall pick on a running back but then the football gods would be mad and the next thing we knew the Bears would be in the playoffs, both of their coordinators would be getting head coach jobs and the Packers would be giving up 300 yards per year to someone named Ashton. (FYI according to Google, the origin of the name Ashton is the old-English for Ash Tree Town. No clue what an ash tree is.)
Realistically, Jeanty could be a good pick for the Bears. They did just enough in free agency that they don't have a massive glaring need anywhere. They're just generally a blah team. So why not use the old/injury prone offensive line you paid for to pave the way for Jeanty to get six touchdowns in Lambeau.
The next best option may be someone like Will Johnson. A long corner who can play press man in Dennis Allen's system. There are a lot of edges projected to go around the Bears pick and the Dennis Allen era Saints spent a few firsts on edges but they also took Marshon Lattimore and I don't think the Bears would pay $12mm per sack for Dayo Odeyingbo one year after trading for and extending Montez Sweat just to use a first on an edge.
Rounds 2-3
The Bears have three picks over the second and third rounds. Expect them to use at least one on an o-linemen and potentially one on a linebacker. They're probably looking to replace Tremaine Edmunds at linebacker and a player liek Demtrius Knight Jr. would fit Dennis Allen's defense perfectly.
As far as o-line, Thuney probably has two plus years left and this offense needs a great o-line to prosper. Investing in it will have to be the Bears' top priority going forward.
Depending on what the Bears do in the first, a corner or running back would also fit very well over these couple rounds.
I would be surprised if they used a pick on a receiver, quarterback or safety in these rounds. They are set and receiver and QB and if they wanted a safety they had plenty of opportunity in free agency.
Rounds 5-7
The Bears don't have a fourth and I subscribe to the Jumosq theory that the end of the draft is irrelevant so we're really just looking at the fifth-round pick here. This would be a good time to take a QB. Someone like Quinn Ewers or Kurtis Rourke to come in and potentially be the long-term back up for Caleb Williams. Otherwise the best thing for the Bears to do with these picks is trade down to gather more bodies or attempt to trade them for playable veterans.
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Mike Price is a lifelong Packers fan who recently moved from Utah to Stoughton (a Madison suberb). You can follow him on twitter at @themikeprice.
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