Part of that strategy has to include contingencies and replacements for star players who get injured or leave via free agency. 6'5" Thats precisely what the Ravens need. Colts trade up with the Chicago Bears for the first overall . Really deep. 1 overall. The Lions could double-dip at corner here or reach for a high-ceiling pass rusher like Nolan Smith or Lukas Van Ness. His expanded route tree clears a path to add Hyatt, a Tennessee burner who averaged 18.9 yards per catch while hauling in 15 touchdowns last season. Instead, the focus is on defense. Witherspoons college production flashed Sauce Gardner levels of talent a cover corner who tracks routes like he has insider info and gets to the ball to utterly shut down opponents. Right as the 2023 NFL combine got underway, Pro Football Focus dropped their latest mock draft. All other NFL-related trademarks are trademarks of the National Football League. The Georgia product is arguably 2023s top prospect. 3 overall. The Bears pass rush from the front four has been nonexistent for most of the year, and Anderson will bring a boost immediately as he leaves Alabama with 34.5 sacks, the second most in school history. Smith has all the tools to turn into a Pro Bowl defender in the NFL and there may be no better place for him to develop than a Philly team that had four different players finish with at least 11 sacks last season. 2022 Chicago Bears Mock Draft: Vol. 4 and No. Enter White, who can essentially redshirt or play sparingly as the Bears RB3 in 2022 with the plan to ascend to RB2 behind Herbert, or even RB1 if Montgomery leaves town in 2023. Ohio State Trade 1: Saints receive second-round pick (No. / 310 lbs. These are the rounds that you swing on offensive linemen, and Jones is the kind of high-ceiling prospect who could pay big dividends in a few years. Khalil Shakirs NFL Draft stock may have peaked a little too soon. Patrick Peterson was Minnesotas top corner in 2022 by far, and while he could re-sign this spring hes also set to turn 33 years old. Torrence transferred from Louisiana and didn't miss a beat. He was an edge rusher for the Crimson Tide, but he lined up all over the defense for Arkansas and he's been a one-man wrecking crew when he's on the field. Luke Easterling. 1 overall pick: Charlie Campbell, Walter Football (Feb. 20). No, but neither was last years sixth-round pick, Thomas Graham. The Chicago Bears don't have any picks in the opening round of the 2022 NFL draft. Bears trade their second overall pick (acquired from the Texans) and 2024 fourth round pick. 71 overall): Khalil Shakir, WR, Boise State. Ohio State 6'4" The Bears added a quality nickel cornerback in former Baltimore Raven Tavon Young, and veteran tight end Ryan Griffin was inked to provide depth behind Cole Kmet. Bad news: It's not nearly high enough to land the team a QB. 148 overall): Mario Goodrich, CB, Clemson. Seven-round 2022 NFL mock draft, Round 2: Bears select WR Treylon Burks with first of two picks Published: Apr 22, 2022 at 11:44 AM Chad Reuter Draft Analyst Round 1 Round 2 Round 3. Seahawks trade their 20th overall pick and 2024 fifth round pick. With the testing set to commence it seems like an ideal time for a new mock draft. With their eighth loss in a row, the Bears are sure to have one of the first picks of Round 1 come April. which armed the Steelers with the Chicago Bears No. The run on offense stops here with the other cornerback from Cincinnati. The TCU standout is big and explosive, standing 6-foot-4 and averaging 19 yards per reception in three collegiate seasons. While questions about his ability to perform under duress in the pocket persist, he looks like a rock solid quarterback prospect something the Colts havent had since Andrew Luck. The South Carolina product would be an instant boost for the leagues 26th-ranked passing defense. While many mocks have the Colts trading up to this spot, Im throwing the Texans in for a modest move-up to ensure the top quarterback on their board. Check out the full first-round forecast, 1-31. He has all the physical tools you look for in an elite edge defender and it's easy to see him in a few years being dominant. Vinny Iyer, Sporting News (Feb. 12) Pick: Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Comment: The Bears, picking first overall for the first time since 1947, shouldn't need to consider QB with the passing and running ceiling of big-armed Justin Fields. The NFL docked Miami this pick and a 2023 third rounder and fined team owner $1.5 millionfor violating the integrity of the gameas it pertained to tampering with then-Saints head coach Sean Payton and Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady. Check out the full first-round projection, 1-31. Here's how all seven. Jr Porter is a marvel fast enough to work in the slot or along the sideline without giving up a speed or quickness advantage and strong enough to stand out in press coverage and deter routes downfield. Tony Pauline, Pro Football Network (Feb. 21) Pick: Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter Comment: The Bears can use help all over the field, but taking the best player available is the best strategy at this point. By Jacob Infante. Check out the full first-round projection, 1-31. The Bears badly need a difference maker for their defensive line and have to replace Robert Quinn and Khalil Mack. The 6-foot-4, 235-pounder was the rare freshman to start on Nick Saban's defense, but Anderson proved his special ability with a superb 2020 season. New blood and direction, but just the. 2022 Bears mock draft: Final 7-round predictions WCG's lead draft analyst shares his last-minute predictions for the Bears' haul in the 2022 NFL Draft. This seems as good a place as any to make another calculated risk and hope Smith-Njigba can be the missing piece to truly unlock Seattles offensive potential. When we work our way through these NFL mock drafts, the point is to narrow down players who may be available for the Chicago Bears to draft when they are on the clock. / 232 lbs. With that being said, this will be the sixth installment of the three-round mock draft Thursday, where I will lay out different . While the playoff teams continue their quest for a Lombardi . Johnston's an above-the-rim playmaker whose athleticism and contested-catch abilities make him WR1 at this point in the proceedings. There hasnt been as much buzz about him as there was after the NFL Scouting Combine, and while that doesnt mean hell free-fall out of day two, it does suggest hell be hanging around when the Bears are on the clock in the third round. While he may not have the ceiling of Paris Johnson Jr. or Broderick Jones, he has the highest floor of any lineman in this years draft. The Bears trade down twice, pick up a boatload of draft assets, and still get the player who may have made the most sense for them at No. Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports (Feb. 21) Pick: Alabama edge rusher Will Anderson Comment: The Bears moved on from Robert Quinn before the trade deadline so they'll be in the market for an edge rusher this offseason, and Will Anderson is in the same pre-draft conversations as Chase Young and Nick Bosa when it comes to best non-QB players in a class. Jordan Love, who could be taking over QB1 duties this fall depending on the result of Rodgers latest descent into madness). He recognizes coverage well and manages to find gaping holes to exploit even as TCUs top big play threat. 1 overall pick. 6'0" In Jacksonville, he could replace Evan Engram, if the team is unable to re-sign him after a career year. This week, for fun, we had two teams trading up for franchise passers. And it was before the tectonic plates under the Chicago football universe shifted. He's been that good for Alabama, dragging that team to victory just about every week. 1 pick trade compensation It's a bit easier to figure what the Bears might get for the No. 39). Hes an extremely raw but incredibly talented offensive lineman who profiles more as an interior player right now. 7 overall pickto the New York Giants in. Wilson is a consistent mauler capable of lining up at end or kicking inside to shoot gaps in order to exploit weakness. Jr Hes still got room to grow, but hes capable of filling the Cardinals void up front and immediately leading the team in sacks, QB hits, pressures and general backfield ransacking. Also, Chicago will likely take advantage of the . 6'6" 19 overall pick in the first round. And that, in large part, is what makes him such an interesting prospect. You can watch the entire show, also with former Vikings GM Rick Spielman, below: In another mock trade, the Buccaneers move up from No. Each year we wait for the Packers to spend a first round pick on a wideout or tight end capable of taking the top off Aaron Rodgers offense. However, their 32-31 win over the Indianapolis Colts . 6'3" Branch isn't the first name you hear about when the conversation turns to Alabama's defense, but maybe he should be. ), while the Bears move to No. Right tackle Andrew Wylie is also a pending free agent, so in comes Jones to theoretically take his spot. Stroud flew under the national media radar for much of the fall, but some NFL teams will tell you he'll be in the running for QB1, and his performance in the semifinal game vs. Georgia back in January showed that he can beat you with his arm and his legs. 1 overall pick / 210 lbs. (The trade details, if you're interested: The Bucs get No. / 335 lbs. Carter is listed at 6-foot-3, 300 pounds, 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier than the Rams' destroyer of offenses, Aaron Donald. Smith is a bit of a wild card a lean edge rusher who played a role on a national championship team but who also missed nearly half the 2022 season due to a torn pectoral and never racked up big numbers (in large part due to everyone else on the UGA defense being an absolute monster). More importantly, he played through minor injuries throughout the Horned Frogs 2022 run to the National Championship Game, showcasing the kind of commitment NFL coaches absolutely cannot get enough of. / 233 lbs. But the All-American is cat quick, lines up at all points along the front, can push the pocket and gets exceptional penetration and is especially effective at swallowing running backs. The Bears have a need at safety next to Eddie Jackson. So lets use this time to look ahead to next years draft. NFL Draft Bears Mock Draft 2022: Post-Khalil Mack Trade Bryan Perez March 10, 2022 In case you missed it, I recently posted a seven-round Chicago Bears 2022 mock draft here on TDN. That starts in the 2022 NFL Draft. The 2023 NFL Draft is over a month away, but mock drafts are flooding the internet before the real thing takes place. It's easy to forget that he led the 2021 Buckeyes in receptions and that corps included first-rounders Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave, and future first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. Tennessee / 286 lbs. 4 and stockpile picks. Bears Mock Draft: Final Edition for BearDigest Consequences if Bears Don't Trade Down Too often in this 2022 mock draft, version 6.0 for BearDigest, players are unavailable who the. Round 2, Pick 39: Kyler Gordon, CB, Washington. 6'0" The Bears are taking full advantage of the opportunity presented by the NFL to conduct 18-minute interviews with 45 prospects this week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Texas Tech They also get: all for a minor trade down and the inconvenience of parting with a pair of fourth round picks. The 2022 NFL Draft is under a week away which means that all 32 teams are going to come together and select the best prospects in the world to come to play for their franchise. Zach Allen, a rising pass rusher who benefitted from Watts presence, is a free agent. Jr Chicago Bears in 2023 NFL Free Agency. Sure, running back isnt on any pre-draft team-needs lists, but I wouldnt be surprised if Poles takes one on day three. 186 overall): Amari Carter, SAF, Miami. Team owner Jim Irsay has been effusive and very public with his praise of Stroud. 6'5" Among those positions, Anderson is the best prospect. He finally made a splash this season by firing Matt Rhule, then hiring Frank Reich despite Steve Wilks competence as an interim head coach. MORE: NFL Mock Draft 2023, 2-round edition No. / 194 lbs. He has major injury red flags after tearing both of his ACLs during his time at Georgia. In a previous mock draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper had the . With wide receiver Darnell Mooney, Burks makes a phenomenal one-two punch for quarterback Justin Fields to grow with. / 275 lbs. It also puts a stop to the rumors that this team isnt building around Justin Fields. 20 to No. Expand 1 of 30 Virginia McCaskey, the. 2023 NFL Mock Draft: Lions grab Anthony Richardson early in first round; Colts trade up to No. Jr 8; the Falcons get No. The agreed upon price, the No. / 218 lbs. Logan Thomas turns 32 in July and only has 57 catches over the previous two seasons. Hes a big cornerback at 6-foot-2 who also brings lightning fast speed to the table and could make an immediate Tariq Woolen-like impact for a Lions defense that ranked 23rd against the pass in 2022. 6'3" If we look at the wide receiver group, the additions of Byron Pringle and Equanimeous St. Brown are not home run signings. The NFL Scouting Combine is underway, and many coaches and general managers are down in Indianapolis taking part in the evaluation of the prospects that are slated to be taken in the NFL Draft. 6'6" 2023 PFN Consensus Big Board. 1 of 31. Whether it's Aaron Rodgers, Jordan Love or the QB behind Door No. Anderson would give them a new Khalil Mack after also saying goodbye to Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith on the second level. Free agency will patch some roster holes while leaving others, giving us a better idea of each teams draft priorities. Bell, unlike Watson, didnt do so well at the NFL Scouting Combine. He may eventually end up going early on Day 2, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see him slip into the first round. Round 6 (No. He was dominant for Florida last fall, he was dominant during Senior Bowl practices and if history is any guide, he'll be dominant in the NFL, too. Do the Eagles NEED him? A draft class of Watson, Bell, and Doubs only enhances the odds that Justin Fields has an exciting young receiver corps to work with moving forward. His stock has risen steadily in the pre-draft process. Mar 3, 2023, 7:04am PST. 6'3" The first version of BearDigest's 2023 Bears mock draft is aimed heavily at the defensive line, with an obvious tough choice up first. Hes a Day 1 starter capable of generating optimism for the Commanders and making life easier for whichever quarterback arrives to take snaps in 2023. Instead, he slides a bit here to take on an immediate starring role in Georgia. The Chiefs know the value of a monster tackle; they traded away a first rounder for Orlando Brown Jr., who theyll likely sign to a lengthy and expensive contract extension this spring.