It is time for my Bears mock draft 2.0. If you haven’t checked out my first mock, you can do so here. In addition to seeing how things have changed, it will also explain a bit about why I don’t see the Bears doing much trading on draft night.
As I mentioned in my first mock, I’m hoping to select the best player available that fills a need. The Bears only have five picks in the 2022 draft, so they’ll need to be smart about who they select. I think offensive and defensive line should be priorities, and I also believe in defensive depth.
Pick 39 (Round 2) – Nicholas Petit-Frere, OT/Ohio State
I was ready to pencil in my guy George Pickens here, but he seems to have slipped in the rankings. I still think that the Bears should look at a young WR to fill the void I’m assuming will be left by Allen Robinson, but I don’t think they should reach. Instead, they should look at someone like Petit-Frere, who is 6’5” and 315 lbs.
He played both right and left tackle at times in college, and I think he would add some essential depth to the offensive line. The Bears had two rookies earn some tackle time last season, Larry Borom and Teven Jenkins, but I do not believe either has proven themselves yet. I am also unsure about the future of 40 year old free agent Jason Peters. They should look at this Buckeye who seemed to me to be capable in both running and passing plays. His movement is solid for such a big player, and he uses his space intelligently. I love the fact that he played on both sides in college, so if Jenkins or Borom pan out, Petit-Frere can simply solidify the other side.
Pick 71 (Round 3) – Nik Bonitto, EDGE/Oklahoma
I like consistency, and Bonitto remains available at this spot almost every time a simulate a mock draft. The Bears have to see what happens with Akiem Hicks in free agency, but regardless, they should look to get younger at EDGE in this year’s draft. Robert Quinn is 31 and Angelo Blackson is 29. Both made some huge plays for the Bears this past season, but I think Bonitto can earn some playing time as a rookie.
The Bears defense is what kept this team in games last season, and they need to try and maintain that this season. Assuming Khalil Mack is back healthy, adding a young EDGE rusher to spell Quinn and Blackson could be a sneaky-good addition. There are a plethora of good EDGE rushers in this year’s draft, but I like Bonitto the most in this range.
Pick 146 (Round 5) – Akayleb Evans, CB/Missouri
Sadly, as one redditor pointed out to me on my last mock, Josh Jobe already appears to be unavailable at this stage in the draft. But I still feel the Bears should draft a corner. Akayleb Evans is listed at 6’2”, 198 pounds. This is great size for the NFL, and he definitely uses it to be physical.
He is very active as a press corner, and appears to have more than enough speed to stick with receivers down the field. His tackling left quite a bit to be desired, and at times he looked too “handsy” downfield. However, with Eberflus’ defensive acumen, I think Evans could easily be developed into a solid starting cornerback. I’m not sure he starts Day 1, but depth at corner is huge in this league, and I think Evans can contribute right away.
Pick 148 (Round 5) – Thayer Munford, IOL/Ohio State
It was fun watching Munford highlights while he played alongside the Bears’ earlier draft pick, Nicholas Petit-Frere. They look like a tandem that could potentially pave the way for their fellow Buckeye, Justin Fields.
Munford is 6’6” and 320 pounds, and has played both guard and tackle for OSU. I am by no means an elite offensive line mind, but my eye test says he should stay at guard once in the NFL. He has the strength and positioning to be solid on the interior for the Bears, but I’m not sure he’ll be quick enough to slow down the fast EDGE rushers in the NFL. He also benefitted from C.J. Stroud getting rid of the ball quickly, so I’m still not 100% sold on him in pass protection. Regardless, the Bears need to draft to protect Fields. Munford has plenty of size and upside to be a starter in the NFL. As a fifth round pick, I like this value.
Pick 185 (Round 6) – Khalil Shakir, WR/Boise State
Ok, so I really want the Bears to draft a WR at some point. Why not as a round 6 flyer? This 6’0” 185 pound wideout does not strike me as the WR1-type, but I think there’s potential for him alongside Darnell Mooney. I saw him make some highlight-reel type catches downfield, but I don’t think he will be a consistent vertical threat. Shakir thrives on short-intermediate catches over the middle, especially against zone defenses.
I liked how when he wasn’t open initially, he would continue to locate open space to create a window for his quarterback. The problem I saw was that I did not see him create separation very often, and that could be an issue for him in the NFL. He was elusive after the catch, but he doesn’t have breakaway speed. Again, I like him as a round 6 pick to be a versatile slot-type receiver for the Bears.
More changes to come?
I knew there would be rankings fluctuations in between mocks, but George Pickens dropping nearly 20 spots was a bit strange to me. Further, I was not expecting to be out of the range of Leo Chenal and Chris Paul. It will be exciting to see how things fluctuate in Bears Mock Draft 3.0.
I may as well prepare to select all brand new picks next time around, so stay tuned for more as we get closer to April. Also, feel free to share your thoughts with me @Jlime8 on Twitter. There are a million ways to think about draft picks, so the discussion is always fun.
Buy New & Used Team Jerseys, Sports Apparel, Footwear, & Hats at SidelineSwap.com!
Make sure to check out our Shop as well, and check CSM out on Facebook and Twitter!