Mock draft roundup: Who the experts are sending to Bears
Mar 26, 2017 5:14:16 GMT -6
riczaj01 likes this
Post by AlexM on Mar 26, 2017 5:14:16 GMT -6
by Lorin Cox
ARTICLE
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
Mock draft by Jared Dubin of CBS Sports
The cornerback position in Chicago was a nightmare in 2016, and even after adding multiple veterans at the position in free agency, it would be no surprise to see Pace add even more talent there early in the draft.
Lattimore is the consensus number one cornerback in the class among the draft community because of his rare combination of athleticism, physicality and ball skills.
The number three pick might seem a little rich to some to take a cornerback, but the Ohio State product has the potential to be worth the heavy investment. He can shore up the position for the next decade.
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
Mock draft by Eddie Brown of The San Diego Union Tribune
Just because Pace took Leonard Floyd in the first round last year doesn’t mean he won’t take another edge defender in 2017. The Bears’ top four outside linebackers all battled injuries last season, and the long-term durability of at least a few of them are certainly in question.
Thomas really can do a little bit of everything, lining up all over the line of scrimmage for Stanford’s defense. In Chicago, he would fit right in the mold of Pernell McPhee on the edge as a big, physical defender to set the edge and punish opponents.
Adding him to the mix at outside linebacker would give the Bears one of the league’s most promising, young pass-rushing groups with he and Floyd locking down the edges.
Jamal Adams, S, LSU
Mock draft by Peter Schrager of Fox Sports
The Bears haven’t had a lock-down, franchise player at the safety position since Mike Brown, and Adams has the potential to finally solve a weakness that has haunted defenses in Chicago for almost a decade.
Along with the other young players at the position and the addition of Quintin Demps in free agency, Adams could be the missing piece on the back end to finally bring that enforcer to the secondary.
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Mock draft by Will Brinson of CBS Sports
It wasn’t long ago that Allen was considered one of the safest picks in the draft and a lock to go in the Top 5. His draft stock perception hasn’t kept up with the rest of the pack, but that doesn’t take away from the consistency he showed on tape at Alabama.
Adding Allen to the Bears’ front seven would give them an elite defensive line combination along side Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman. The Alabama product can play up and down the interior and use his refined technique to beat blockers versus both the run and pass.
He might not be as flashy of a prospect as the likes of Adams and Thomas, but even with his minor shoulder concerns, Allen remains an extremely reliable potential pick who fills a need in the trenches.
ARTICLE
Marshon Lattimore, CB, Ohio State
Mock draft by Jared Dubin of CBS Sports
The cornerback position in Chicago was a nightmare in 2016, and even after adding multiple veterans at the position in free agency, it would be no surprise to see Pace add even more talent there early in the draft.
Lattimore is the consensus number one cornerback in the class among the draft community because of his rare combination of athleticism, physicality and ball skills.
The number three pick might seem a little rich to some to take a cornerback, but the Ohio State product has the potential to be worth the heavy investment. He can shore up the position for the next decade.
Solomon Thomas, DE, Stanford
Mock draft by Eddie Brown of The San Diego Union Tribune
Just because Pace took Leonard Floyd in the first round last year doesn’t mean he won’t take another edge defender in 2017. The Bears’ top four outside linebackers all battled injuries last season, and the long-term durability of at least a few of them are certainly in question.
Thomas really can do a little bit of everything, lining up all over the line of scrimmage for Stanford’s defense. In Chicago, he would fit right in the mold of Pernell McPhee on the edge as a big, physical defender to set the edge and punish opponents.
Adding him to the mix at outside linebacker would give the Bears one of the league’s most promising, young pass-rushing groups with he and Floyd locking down the edges.
Jamal Adams, S, LSU
Mock draft by Peter Schrager of Fox Sports
The Bears haven’t had a lock-down, franchise player at the safety position since Mike Brown, and Adams has the potential to finally solve a weakness that has haunted defenses in Chicago for almost a decade.
Along with the other young players at the position and the addition of Quintin Demps in free agency, Adams could be the missing piece on the back end to finally bring that enforcer to the secondary.
Jonathan Allen, DE, Alabama
Mock draft by Will Brinson of CBS Sports
It wasn’t long ago that Allen was considered one of the safest picks in the draft and a lock to go in the Top 5. His draft stock perception hasn’t kept up with the rest of the pack, but that doesn’t take away from the consistency he showed on tape at Alabama.
Adding Allen to the Bears’ front seven would give them an elite defensive line combination along side Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman. The Alabama product can play up and down the interior and use his refined technique to beat blockers versus both the run and pass.
He might not be as flashy of a prospect as the likes of Adams and Thomas, but even with his minor shoulder concerns, Allen remains an extremely reliable potential pick who fills a need in the trenches.